43rd PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION House of Commons Debates Official Report (Hansard)

Volume 150 No. 102 Friday, May 14, 2021

Speaker: The Honourable CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 7229

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Friday, May 14, 2021

The House met at 10 a.m. required. What does “free, prior and informed consent” mean if it is not a duty to consult and it is not a veto?

Prayer What precisely is meant in the context of this legislation by “free, prior and informed consent” if it is something more than the duty to consult, but something less than a veto?

GOVERNMENT ORDERS Hon. (Minister of Justice, Lib.): Madam ● (1005) Speaker, the hon. member has asked this question a number of [Translation] times, and I will give what I believe is the same clear answer that I have given a number of times before. UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ACT FPIC is a process. FPIC is about meaningful consultation, dis‐ BILL C-15—TIME ALLOCATION MOTION cussion and dialogue with indigenous peoples affected by a particu‐ Hon. (Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and lar decision, say a resource development project, that they be at the Associate Minister of Finance, Lib.) moved: table from the beginning. Yes, there is a duty to consult under That, in relation to Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration Canadian law. That has had further refinement and guidance from on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, not more than one further sitting day shall be the Federal Court of Appeal in the Trans Mountain process. We, as allotted to the consideration of the third reading stage of the bill; and a government, were taken to task for not having meaningfully con‐ That, 15 minutes before the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders sulted the first time through, and we got it right the second time on the day allotted to the consideration of the third reading stage of the said bill, through. any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted, if required for the purpose of this order, and, in turn, every question necessary for the disposal of the said stage of the bill shall be put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amend‐ ment. FPIC is a process. It is going to continue to be a process. It will be contextual, so there is no way to precisely define it at the outset, The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): and there is no way it should be precisely defined at the outset. The Pursuant to Standing Order 67(1), there will now be a 30-minute hon. member knows that. It is about discussion and dialogue. It is question period. about putting indigenous peoples at the table, where, heretofore, I invite hon. members who wish to ask questions to rise in their they have not— places or to use the raise hand function so the Chair has some idea of the number of members who wish to participate in the question The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): period. Questions and comments, the hon. member for Saint-Jean. [English] [Translation] The hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan. Mr. (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, Ms. (Saint-Jean, BQ): Madam Speaker, CPC): Madam Speaker, we are sorry to see the government shut‐ that is a little ironic because, yesterday, when we were debating the ting down debate yet again. I want to ask a specific question about Bloc Québécois's opposition day motion, I talked about how one the legislation, though. can be for a bill but against using closure to pass that bill. Right now in Canadian law, we have a duty to consult around the development of resource projects. The government has said that The same principle applies here. I agree with Bill C‑15. I realize this legislation does not create a veto for all communities that may that it needs to go through quickly. However, I do not agree with be affected. The existing law has duty to consult, and the Liberals the government's approach. It has clearly done a poor job of man‐ are saying it is not a veto. FPIC, the doctrine of free, prior and in‐ aging its legislative calendar, and now it is shutting down debate on formed consent, is ostensibly somewhere in between these two ex‐ a very important subject that many members wanted to speak to. tremes, according to the government, but there is still a lot of clarity We got just two hours of debate on this. 7230 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Government Orders Is this because we will not be able to debate it in September be‐ definition so that industry and first nations communities themselves cause there will be an election between now and then? Is that why have an idea of what this means, and then chart a path forward that the government had no choice but to bring in time allocation? is best for them, is quite concerning. Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. col‐ league for her question. The answer is no. This is a priority for the government, for in‐ digenous peoples, and for indigenous leaders across the country. Why will the government not do its work and get that definition done here so it is not challenged in the courts later, further delaying The fact is, we have already covered this. We have already debat‐ this process? ed the substance of Bill C‑15 because we debated its previous itera‐ tion, Bill C‑262, which was introduced by our former colleague, Romeo Saganash. The previous Parliament passed that bill after a debate to which the Bloc Québécois contributed its opinion. Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous for his work on committee. The answer is the same. The best expert Peoples itself has been around for 15 years, so it is not new. opinions we have received throughout this and the most convincing arguments made have been that FPIC should not be defined in the [English] legislation, cannot be defined in the legislation, because the very Mr. (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP): nature of FPIC is in a process. Madam Speaker, the government is certainly using speed to get this bill through. Fair enough, but one wonders why it does not use speed to resolve community issues that have come up. First nations communities have desperate need to end boil water advisories, and we have heard the government is now extending the deadline. For We said from the beginning that we would consult as many in‐ over a decade, first nations communities continue to wait for that digenous leadership groups as we possibly could before the tabling government support. Indigenous-led housing is also something the of the bill. We did that. Those groups had an impact on the form of government has not tackled with any speed whatsoever, and we the bill before it was tabled. We continued to consult after the bill have seen first nations kids taken repeatedly to court rather than was tabled, and the indigenous groups, in making appearances at having their basic needs met. committee and in working with the government, have proposed a number of amendments, many of which we have accepted. Again, The question is very simple. Liberals are using speed when it that consultation process continues, and the consultation process comes to this bill. Why do they not use the same speed to meet the with indigenous leadership groups across will continue as needs of indigenous peoples in this country? we move through the action plan and the co-development of it. ● (1010) Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his support on this bill generally, as well as the support of his party. I obviously also salute the work that Romeo Saganash did in the Mr. (Parliamentary Secretary to the Presi‐ last Parliament and continues to do in support and promotion of this dent of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of bill. Intergovernmental Affairs and to the Leader of the Govern‐ ment in the House of Commons, Lib.): Madam Speaker, the We are working hard to solve infrastructure problems, drinking Truth and Reconciliation Commission has called upon all levels of water problems. We have done a great deal of work on it, but we government in Canada to adopt and implement the UN declaration have admitted honestly that more work needs to be done. The same as the framework for reconciliation. I am wondering if the minister is true for resolving cases around Jordan's principle. We are work‐ could provide his thoughts as to why it is so important in moving ing very hard to resolve those cases out of court where possible, forward with reconciliation that the and the and we are doing our best to move all of those files forward. Prime Minister continue to push this bill so it ultimately can get I think the hon. member and I share the same end point and the passed. same goals, and we are pushing hard to make them happen. Mr. (Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, CPC): Madam Speaker, I share the concern on this side of the House at the way the government is ramming through this piece of Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member legislation. We heard at committee many times from indigenous for his commitment to the reconciliation process generally. It is an groups themselves that said they have not had the opportunity to be important question. TRC called UNDRIP a road map to reconcilia‐ consulted. We still have the outstanding question about the very im‐ tion, and we firmly believe that. This bill is about human rights. It portant piece of FPIC, free, prior and informed consent, and what it is about the human rights of indigenous peoples. It behooves me to means, and the minister, in his previous response to my friend from understand why people could be opposed to recognizing human Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, was quite dismissive of it. rights for indigenous people, who simply want to have the same The fact that the legislative branch is not doing its job in creating a rights that other people in this country have. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7231

Government Orders Yes, this is a priority for our government. Yes, this helps the road We must proceed in this way because, as the House has noticed, map to reconciliation. It is fundamentally important. People like Dr. certain dilatory tactics are being used, especially by one opposition Wilton Littlechild, former Conservative member of Parliament and party. one of the architects of UNDRIP, have said that precisely. [English] [Translation] Ms. (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP): Madam Ms. Andréanne Larouche (Shefford, BQ): Madam Speaker, I Speaker, I am torn on this matter and I am going to be very candid thank my colleague for this morning's debate, which will be very with the minister. I am rarely less than decisive. I fully support the short. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, but the process by which we come to this place has left indigenous As the critic for the status of women, I would have liked to see communities, first nations, Métis and Inuit, divided on the matter. the government have the same sense of urgency when it came to The right path, the right way to vote, is not at all clear to me, and it applying the recommendations of the final report of the National certainly is the case that we cannot wait any longer to take the steps Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls as we need to take for reconciliation. it did this morning for Bill C‑15. There are a number of very significant first nations policy ana‐ How much time has been spent so far debating a document as lysts and a number of legal analysts who are on both sides, and of important as Bill C‑15? I will give the House just one guess: barely first nations themselves that say they were not consulted in the de‐ an hour and 43 minutes and the minister is already imposing time velopment of Bill C-15. It is therefore really important that we hear allocation. the different perspectives and we ask the hon. minister if he does not regret that there was— Does the minister think that one hour and 43 minutes is enough time to debate this important issue? What about the time allocation The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): on Bill C‑19, prorogation of Parliament and obstruction in commit‐ The hon. minister. tee? This government behaves like a majority government when voters gave it a minority mandate. Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I agree with the mem‐ ber's observation that it is rare that she is less than decisive on a ● (1015) matter. I always appreciate her opinions and I take this question very seriously. Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. col‐ league for the question. It is true that she was not here in the last Yes, in a minority government context, we consulted as many in‐ Parliament when we fully debated Bill C‑262, which is the founda‐ digenous leadership groups in a variety of forms as we possibly tion for the current Bill C‑15. The House even passed Bill C‑262, could. As I said, they had an impact on the original Romeo but it died on the Order Paper in the Senate because of the Conser‐ Saganash bill before tabling. We continued to consult, and they had vative senators' political games. an impact on the bill at committee. I commit to the hon. member that I will continue to consult as many indigenous leadership This is therefore the second time the House is studying this issue, groups as I possibly can, in particular in the development of the ac‐ so much of it is very familiar. Everyone is indeed aware of the con‐ tion plan as we move forward. tent of the bill and we are proceeding in this way because it is a pri‐ ority for the country. I would just point out to her that although there is disagreement, Mr. (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, there is an increasing trend, particularly after the last set of amend‐ NDP): Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague. This issue is obvi‐ ments in committee, to be supportive of the bill on the part of in‐ ously a priority for the country. I must point out that Bill C‑262 was digenous leadership. introduced by our former colleague, Romeo Saganash, as an NDP Mr. (Flamborough—Glanbrook, CPC): Madam initiative. Therefore, we are in agreement with the substance of Bill Speaker, for the better part of 16 years I have left it up to my col‐ C‑15. leagues to always comment on a hatchet closure motion, but I think However, if this bill were truly a priority for the government, it is time for me to speak up in this regard. why was it incapable of managing its legislative agenda and the ac‐ For 10 straight years I sat on the other side and listened to the tivities of the House in such a way as to move it forward without weeping, gnashing and howling from the Liberal Party every time having to resort to time allocation? This is another example of inept the Hon. stood and moved closure on a bill. The management by the Liberals, who now claim the bill is a priority. Liberals said that they would never do it, that it was undemocratic. Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. col‐ They promised in an election that they would never do it. Now, at league for his question and his support for the substance of this bill. the height of hypocrisy, they continue to do it over and over again. As my NDP colleague said, it is simply because they cannot even I will once again highlight Romeo Saganash's work on the previ‐ manage their own House agenda. ous bill, which is the basis for Bill C‑15. I also want to remind members that Mr. Saganash continues to promote Bill C‑15 to this This needs to stop. The Liberals need to start respecting the day. House and debate bills appropriately. 7232 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Government Orders ● (1020) The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, the reason why we are The hon. member for Kingston and the Islands. here is because of the general dilatory tactics of the member's party on every single matter that comes up in front of the House. We can Mr. (Kingston and the Islands, Lib.): Madam recall the fall economic statement, which got more debate time than Speaker, when ministers rise usually a day before or a couple of a budget. The Conservatives keep throwing up tactic after tactic to days before to indicate that they will be moving this motion, the delay debate, which has forced our hand. first thing they say is that an agreement could not be reached with I would imagine the hon. member was here in the last session the parties. Indeed, there is always the behind-the-scenes work of and would remember the high-fiving of certain Conservative mem‐ trying to come to some co-operation and agreement of when a bill bers who voted against Romeo Saganash's bill. That is not reconcil‐ can be put through the process and eventually voted on. However, iation; Bill C-15 is reconciliation. as we are seeing time and again, the Conservatives are absolutely refusing to let certain legislation go through. It is their way of say‐ [Translation] ing they do not want the legislation. Mrs. Marilène Gill (Manicouagan, BQ): Madam Speaker, I just want to comment on the fact that the government cannot even Could the minister comment on how frustrating it must be for manage its own legislative agenda properly. That is why we are in him to go through this time after time? this situation today. The government introduced Bill C‑19 rather than prioritizing Bill Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I salute the member's re‐ C‑15, and yet the Liberals claim they do not want an election. This silience in the House of Commons, holding down the fort. government prorogued Parliament last summer, when we could have used that time to work faster and more responsibly. It is frustrating to watch the dilatory tactics of the Conservative I would just like to point out to the minister that there seems to Party on a number of important pieces of progressive legislation. be a real leadership problem when it comes to the government's MAID, for example, was something that wanted, that legislative agenda. would reduce the suffering of Canadians, yet there was delay after Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. col‐ delay. It is the same on this bill and on other bills I have had in league for her comments. front of the House. I have had a number, and still have a number. Obviously, I disagree. As she might well recall, we debated Bill C‑262 in the previous Parliament, and it received significant sup‐ It is important we get these bills through. port in the House. The foundations of this bill had already been laid and were well known before the debate began. ● (1025) We are moving forward like this because it is a priority for in‐ digenous people across Canada and it is important to our reconcilia‐ Mr. Jamie Schmale (Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, tion process. CPC): Madam Chair, again, we are hearing over and over the fact that the government cannot seem to manage its legislative agenda. [English] Again, we are being forced to undergo a closure motion, yet this Mr. (Skeena—Bulkley Valley, NDP): bill has barely been debated in the House. Of course, the Liberals, Madam Speaker, I believe this bill has strong support among in‐ which they do best, play the blame game, saying it has to be some‐ digenous people in northwest B.C., but there are also some misgiv‐ one else's fault. No matter what goes wrong, it is never their fault, ings. I wonder if the minister could inform Canadians, especially which is a common theme. indigenous people in the region I represent of northwest British Columbia, about the tangible changes the bill would create in the near term for indigenous communities. Why did we not debate this bill when Parliament was shut down? Why did we not keep going longer throughout the summer, rather Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member than the one-day sitting a month, to debate this bill? Why did the for his commitment. I salute the leadership of British Columbia Liberals prorogue Parliament? generally on UNDRIP. The Province of British Columbia has UN‐ DRIP legislation and a road map. It is moving forward and doing quite well economically, among other things. This could have been done a lot better, and it was not. We still do not have certainty through indigenous communities that have re‐ The bill is a reset for the path that indigenous and non-indige‐ layed their concerns through committee. Those concerns have not nous peoples have to walk together in our country. It would put us been addressed. Why not? at the same table from the beginning with respect to major deci‐ sions that have an impact. Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, we are continuing to en‐ Symbolically and substantively, it articulates a set of rights for gage with indigenous leadership groups from across the country, indigenous peoples. Symbolically and substantively, it rejects a particularly in the development of amendments to this bill. We have number of doctrines— done that. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7233

Government Orders We will continue to work with indigenous leadership groups as ● (1030) we develop an action plan together. The law requires us to do that within a period of two years. That is intense, and it will be intense, but we will do it. Mr. (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Lib.): Madam Speaker, The hon. member should ask his Conservatives senators why I would like to thank the minister for his hard work on Bill C-15 they let this bill die. They used every procedural manoeuvre possi‐ and for getting it to this point. I want to ask him about the amend‐ ble to let the previous bill die in the Senate. If they had not done ments made by committee and his comments with respect to going that, we would not be here; we would be working on an action plan. forward. Does he believe they strengthened the bill and is he satis‐ Mr. Matthew Green (Hamilton Centre, NDP): Madam Speak‐ fied with the amendments made at the committee stage? er, this is another example of Liberal words not meeting their ac‐ tions. It is another example of how the Liberals do not prioritize their actual work. Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his work on the committee and his leadership as well as the fact I am going to talk about Six Nations and 1492 Land Back. We he is posing this substantive question. have heard the government talk about how it is committed to work‐ ing collaboratively to address historical claims at Six Nations and how it is willing to work with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy I am very pleased with the amendments. They are things I have Council. It has been almost a year of a reclamation process happen‐ believed in for a long time, such as a better recognition of systemic ing there. The Liberals have not had the courtesy of taking the trip racism in the preamble, an explicit rejection of the doctrines of dis‐ down the road to visit them and open up the negotiations. covery and terra nullius, which for 20 years teaching in a law fac‐ ulty property, I consistently reminded my students. I will put this Will the minister commit, today, to actually doing something to‐ euphemistically of the real meaninglessness of these doctrines and ward reconciliation by visiting Six Nations and opening up the ne‐ the historical distortion and the colonial basis that existed for them. gotiations to finally settle that land claim? Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, the member knows that this part of our mandate falls with the Minister of Crown-Indige‐ The other is that indigenous rights are not frozen. This is an im‐ nous Relations. I know she is working on that file. I support the portant amendment that is in accord with Supreme Court of Canada minister in her efforts to settle land claims and to push for these jurisprudence. kinds of settlements around the cabinet table.

While I have not been to the Six Nations reserve as a member of Parliament or a minister, I have visited other Haudenosaunee re‐ Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP): serves and territories. I do my best to work closely with them. Madam Speaker, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples speaks to free, prior and informed consent. The same gov‐ Mr. (Kenora, CPC): Madam Speaker, working on ernment is trying to ram through the Trans Mountain pipeline at the INAN committee, we heard testimony from a lot of witnesses, a nearly $20 billion despite the fact that there is strong opposition lot of indigenous people and organizations that did not feel they from first nation communities. were adequately consulted in the process of this bill. That is very concerning for me and should be concerning for a lot of people.

I wonder if the minister would agree that pushing through legis‐ Will the passage of this bill mean that the government will final‐ lation that would greatly impact indigenous people without proper ly halt ramming through this pipeline over the objections of first consultation is contrary to the spirit of reconciliation. nations? Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I certainly share the member's concern. Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, we did get elected saying that we would redo the consultation process for Trans Mountain. From the beginning, we have tried to consult with as many in‐ We redid it. We redid it imperfectly, and the Federal Court remind‐ digenous leadership groups as possible. It is a complex web with a ed us of that. Therefore, we went back to the table again, with one complex variety of leadership groups. There are treaty nations, consultation group being led by Justice Iacobucci and the other be‐ modern treaty nations, nations with no treaty, regional groups, na‐ ing led by Justice Department officials, and we did a better job to tional leadership groups and groups that focus on women. the satisfaction of the Federal Court. We have done our best to consult with as many as possible. In fact, we prioritized those groups that we had not met in our recom‐ mendations to committee, so these groups would be heard. I contin‐ The kind of process that FPIC in UNDRIP represents is one that ue to do this. I have continued to work through this. Even now, I hopefully allows us to avoid these kinds of questions down the continue to schedule meetings with groups that I have yet to meet road. They will put indigenous peoples at the table from the get-go, to push this process forward in a truly consultative fashion. as they should be. 7234 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Government Orders Mr. (Banff—Airdrie, CPC): Madam Speaker, high five at the back of the House at an untimely point. He is using the minister has claimed that somehow there has been Conservative that as an excuse to further mislead the House that the reason we dilatory tactics used and he has to move time allocation, yet that are expressing concern about this legislation is simply as a stalling has not been the case. Maybe the minister could give us the real tactic. I would appreciate it if the minister would apologize for reasons why time allocation is being moved. making a comment that was misleading to the House and to Cana‐ dians. I know he has so far refused to attend the heritage committee hearings on Bill C-10, even though he has been ordered to do so. Mr. Mark Gerretsen: Madam Speaker, before there is a ruling Perhaps, is he moving time allocation so he can clear his schedule on this point of order I would like the opportunity to provide some to enable him to appear at that committee as he has been asked to? comments, then we can dig into the number of times we can refer‐ ence of that happening on the other side of the House. Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the real sense of humour that he has in posing that question. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): We are getting into debate on both issues. We have started the process, There is nothing but government priority represented in the use so we will take it up for consideration. of time allocation on this, priority for indigenous peoples, the im‐ Mr. Greg McLean: Madam Speaker, pardon me for what might portance of the law. This should have been passed in the last Parlia‐ be a rookie mistake here, but I need to go back to my indigenous ment. It was the will of Parliament and the will of most of the Sen‐ constituents and tell them why this minister is, in my opinion, mis‐ ate except for dilatory tactics used by Conservative senators. We leading the House about why this is only getting one hour of debate have seen dilatory tactics in this minority Parliament used very ef‐ on the floor of the House of Commons. There will be unparliamen‐ fectively by the Conservative Party only to impede, not on any tary language— good, substantive ground. This is an important bill. It is about hu‐ man rights. It is about the human rights of indigenous peoples. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): I am sorry to interrupt the member, but this is getting into debate. We [Translation] will look into the matter and the Speaker will come back to the Mrs. (Beauport—Limoilou, BQ): Madam House with the ruling. Speaker, it is high time that we passed Bill C‑15. * * * First nations peoples are human beings, and that is precisely what Bill C‑15 says. As human beings, they must enjoy the same UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF rights as all other human beings. This is 2021, and it is about time INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ACT that was acknowledged and implemented. BILL C-15—TIME ALLOCATION MOTION However, it is not right for parliamentarians, who represent the The House resumed consideration of the motion. people, to be denied the right to speak to and discuss these issues. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): ● (1035) The question is on the motion. Hon. David Lametti: Madam Speaker, this is not the first time [Translation] we are debating this bill in the House. Members of the Bloc Québécois have already participated in the debate. If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to request a recorded division or that the motion be adopted on divi‐ This bill is already well known. It is based on a former bill, so it sion, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair. is not surprising— [English] The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): Or‐ Mr. Mark Gerretsen: Madam Speaker, I request a recorded di‐ der. It is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith ev‐ vision. ery question necessary to dispose of the motion now before the House. ● (1120) The hon. member for Yorkton—Melville on a point of order. [Translation] (The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the * * * following division:) [English] (Division No. 117) POINTS OF ORDER YEAS COMMENTS BY THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE Members Mrs. (Yorkton—Melville, CPC): Madam Alghabra Amos Speaker, I am rising on a point of order. I am quite concerned about Anand Anandasangaree the fact that we are not allowed to lie or mislead in this House and Angus Arseneault that we are not allowed to call it out when it does happen. Arya Ashton Bachrach Badawey I would request that the minister apologize for his comments Bagnell Bains with regard to two young, newer members of Parliament who did a Baker Battiste May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7235

Government Orders

Beech Bendayan Tabbara Tassi Bennett Bessette Trudeau Turnbull Bibeau Bittle Van Bynen van Koeverden Blaikie Blair Vandal Vandenbeld Blaney (North Island—Powell River) Blois Vaughan Virani Boulerice Bratina Weiler Wilkinson Brière Cannings Wilson-Raybould Yip Carr Casey Young Zahid Chagger Champagne Zann Zuberi– — 178 Chen Cormier Dabrusin Damoff NAYS Davies Dhaliwal Members Dhillon Dong Drouin Dubourg Aboultaif Aitchison Duclos Duguid Albas Alleslev Duncan ( North) Duvall Allison Arnold Dzerowicz Easter Atwin Baldinelli Ehsassi El-Khoury Barlow Barrett Ellis Erskine-Smith Barsalou-Duval Beaulieu Fergus Fillmore Benzen Bergen Finnigan Fisher Bergeron Berthold Fonseca Fortier Bérubé Bezan Fragiskatos Fraser Blanchet Blanchette-Joncas Freeland Fry Block Boudrias Garneau Garrison Bragdon Brassard Gaudreau Gazan Brunelle-Duceppe Calkins Gerretsen Gould Carrie Chabot Green Guilbeault Champoux Charbonneau Hajdu Hardie Chiu Chong Harris Holland Cooper Cumming Housefather Hughes Dalton Dancho Hussen Hutchings Davidson DeBellefeuille Iacono Ien Deltell d'Entremont Jaczek Johns Desbiens Desilets Joly Jones Diotte Doherty Jordan Jowhari Dowdall Dreeshen Julian Kelloway Duncan (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry) Epp Khalid Khera Falk (Battlefords—Lloydminster) Falk (Provencher) Koutrakis Kusmierczyk Fast Findlay Kwan Lalonde Fortin Gallant Lambropoulos Lametti Généreux Genuis Lamoureux Lattanzio Gill Gladu Lauzon LeBlanc Godin Gourde Lebouthillier Lefebvre Gray Hallan Lightbound Long Harder Hoback Longfield Louis (Kitchener—Conestoga) Jansen Jeneroux MacAulay (Cardigan) MacGregor Kelly Kent MacKinnon (Gatineau) Maloney Kitchen Kmiec Martinez Ferrada Masse Kram Kurek Mathyssen May (Cambridge) Kusie Lake McCrimmon McDonald Larouche Lawrence McGuinty McKay Lehoux Lemire McKenna McKinnon (Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam) Lewis (Essex) Liepert McLeod (Northwest Territories) McPherson Lloyd Lobb Mendicino Miller Lukiwski MacKenzie Monsef Morrissey Maguire Manly Murray Ng Marcil Martel O'Connell Oliphant May (Saanich—Gulf Islands) Mazier O'Regan Petitpas Taylor McCauley (Edmonton West) McLean Powlowski Qaqqaq McLeod (Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo) Melillo Qualtrough Ratansi Michaud Moore Regan Robillard Morantz Morrison Rodriguez Rogers Motz Nater Romanado Sahota (Brampton North) Normandin Patzer Saini Sajjan Paul-Hus Pauzé Saks Samson Perron Plamondon Sarai Scarpaleggia Poilievre Rayes Schiefke Schulte Redekopp Reid Serré Sgro Rempel Garner Richards Shanahan Sheehan Rood Ruff Sidhu (Brampton East) Sidhu (Brampton South) Sahota (Calgary Skyview) Saroya Simms Singh Savard-Tremblay Scheer Sorbara Spengemann Schmale Seeback 7236 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Statements by Members Shields Shin The monuments to those who were lost is etched in our collective Shipley Simard memory and in our hearts. The march towards justice is long and Sloan Soroka Stanton Steinley painful, but we will continue until justice is served. Ste-Marie Strahl Stubbs Sweet Thériault Therrien * * * Tochor Trudel Uppal Van Popta HUMAN RIGHTS Vecchio Vidal Viersen Vignola Vis Wagantall Mr. (Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia— Warkentin Waugh Webber Williamson Headingley, CPC): Madam Speaker, today we remember the vic‐ Wong Yurdiga tims of the Pontian Greek genocide, who were brutally exterminat‐ Zimmer– — 151 ed and oppressed a century ago. The Ottoman Empire carried out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against its Christian Greek population PAIRED during the first World War. Nil The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): I declare the motion carried. A period of horrific violence took place until 1922, during which hundreds of thousands of Greek Pontians were incarcerated, deport‐ * * * ed, forced into death marches or systematically executed. Sadly, [English] since these acts of intolerance, violence and hate took place, the world must still learn from our past to prevent similar acts from ev‐ BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE er taking place again. Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP): Madam Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the fol‐ On behalf of our Conservative caucus, I join with the Greek lowing motion. community and all Canadians in remembrance of this horrific chap‐ That, notwithstanding any Standing Orders, special order or usual practice, the ter in human history. We must never again let atrocities like these House now proceed to Statements by Members followed by Oral Questions and that happen and always speak out against systemic discrimination and the usual allotment of time be accorded for each rubric. injustices. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay. * * * Hearing none, it is agreed. ● (1125) The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AWARENESS MONTH Hearing none, the motion is carried. Ms. (Oakville North—Burlington, Lib.): Madam Speaker, did colleagues know that Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world? It is not only the STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS COVID-19 pandemic that has had a more pronounced impact on [English] women. Sadly, so does MS, as 75% of Canadians living with MS are women. The pandemic has amplified the significant challenges HUMAN RIGHTS those with MS face, including barriers to appropriate treatment and Mr. Gary Anandasangaree (Scarborough—Rouge Park, care, employment and housing, which makes this MS Awareness Lib.): Madam Speaker, on May 18, Tamils in Canada and around Month all the more important. the world will mark the 12th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal geno‐ cide. They will mourn, they will grieve, they will commemorate and they will resolve to never again be witness to such genocide Organizations like the MS Society of Canada are working to en‐ and atrocity in our world. Sadly, this right to commemorate itself is sure Canadians living with MS can participate in all aspects of life. under attack. The Sri Lankan state continues to desecrate memori‐ Every day, people living with MS, like my friend Dave Millar, do als and threaten those who commemorate. everything in their power to persevere. Despite these restrictions, Tamils on the island and around the world will join hands on May 18 in person or virtually to pay trib‐ We must continue to raise awareness about MS, not just during ute to our fallen brothers and sisters, and recommit to ensuring that the month of May, but throughout the year and provide funding for Tamils can live on the island with freedom, equality and self-deter‐ significant research, so that one day there can be a world free of mination. We will continue to be resilient and never be silenced. MS. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7237

Statements by Members INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, The gala was the usual ticket price, but instead of attending for TRANSPHOBIA AND BIPHOBIA dinner and entertainment, the guests received a charcuterie box that Mr. (Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, NDP): fed two people, prepared by the Elm Hurst Inn. Online entertain‐ Madam Speaker, today I rise to call on all Canadians to come to‐ ment was provided by Ken Archer, Bob Breen, Ted Comiskey, Jim gether in the fight against hate next Monday on the International Gonder, Kiley Joe Masson and the Ingersoll Pipe Band. Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. Too many members of my community still face hatred and vio‐ lence here in Canada and around the world. Last year, here at home, It was a very enjoyable evening and a successful event. Over 200 hate crimes based on sexual orientation rose by 41%. We must do tickets were sold, and the attendees could dress up or down as they better for our neighbours, friends and family members. In particu‐ wished. It was a great event hosted by Robin and her volunteer lar, we must do better for queer, trans and gender non-conforming team, another great gala in a different format. I thank them all. youth, who are just trying to find their place in this world in the face of incredible hostility.

We cannot remain silent when we hear of people jailed, tortured * * * and too often murdered for who they are or who they love. Yes, we must speak out against this hate at home and abroad, but we must SPEECH AND HEARING MONTH also make sure that Canada is a place where people can find refuge when their own country is not safe because of their sexual orienta‐ tion, gender identity or expression. Mr. (Vaughan—Woodbridge, Lib.): I look forward to the day we can simply celebrate inclusion and Madam Speaker, May is Speech and Hearing Month in Canada. put the fight against homophobia and transphobia behind us once Masks and screens have kept us safe but are also barriers to com‐ and for all. Let us work together toward that day. munication during this pandemic, fundamentally changing how we connect and communicate with one another. * * * [Translation] SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES Picture a nurse struggling to provide information to patients Ms. (Vimy, Lib.): Madam Speaker, this pan‐ through layers of PPE, a newcomer trying to follow conversations demic has been extremely difficult for many low-income families without the help of facial expressions, a student straining to learn as with young children. the teacher freezes on screen yet again, an infant trying to under‐ stand the world through people’s faces or a senior navigating ever- I am proud that Bill C-14 has received Royal Assent. This will changing technology. These communication breakdowns encourage make it possible to provide a $1,200 supplement to the Canada a sense of empathy for people with communication disorders, who child benefit for low-income families with children under the age of live with this reality every day. six. Canadians are feeling the financial burden of the pandemic, and this targeted support will provide some much-needed relief to thou‐ sands of families in my riding of Vimy and will help more than two This May, we thank the speech language pathologists, including million children in Canada. my wife Rose, audiologists and communication health assistants, who, during this pandemic and beyond, are committed to helping The Government of Canada has provided 80% of all the pandem‐ Canadians of all ages to speak well, hear well and live well. ic-related support to Canadians, and we will continue to be there for families until this crisis is over. * * * * * * [English] ● (1130) ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL Mr. Dave MacKenzie (Oxford, CPC): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report on a very successful event that was held in my rid‐ HUMAN RIGHTS ing. Each year, the Alexandra Hospital in Ingersoll has a gala fundraiser organized by the hospital board of trust foundation to raise funds for the purchase of equipment for the hospital. Ms. ( West—Nepean, Lib.): Madam Obviously, due to COVID restrictions, the usual annual event Speaker, it is with great concern that I rise today to report that Ms. could not be held. Robin Schultz, the executive director of the Cristina Palabay of the Philippines, who last week appeared before foundation, and a group of volunteers put on the Stay Home ... Stay the Subcommittee on International Human Rights as a witness, is Safe virtual gala this past Saturday evening. now experiencing harassment and threats because of her testimony. 7238 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Statements by Members Ms. Palabay testified about human rights abuses occurring in the [English] Philippines, and after the committee meeting she was subject to harmful lies and accusations. Ms. Palabay noted in her testimony TRIBUTES BY THE MEMBER FOR BRUCE—GREY— that she has been subjected to continuing harassment and death OWEN SOUND threats. There are many documented cases in the Philippines of hu‐ man rights defenders facing extrajudicial killings following a simi‐ Mr. (Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, CPC): Madam lar pattern. Speaker, today, I rise to pay tribute to a few people.

I urge the authorities in the Philippines to ensure Ms. Palabay First, on a sad note, this past week the community of Tobermory and other witnesses be protected from state reprisal, in keeping and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 290 lost its last World War with the parliamentary privilege extended to individuals who testify II veteran, Norman Stevens. He leaves behind his son, Larry; before parliamentary committees. I know all members of this daughter, Brenda; and many grandchildren, along with a grateful House join me in calling for action to ensure the safety of Ms. Pal‐ community for all he did for the Legion, in particular, the meals on abay and all other witnesses. wheels program. We thank Norman for his service. May he rest in peace. * * * [Translation] Next, on a more positive note, I would like to pass birthday wish‐ es on to my cousins David McLean, Tyler DeVries and my good ANDRÉ GAUTHIER friend Brian Macdonald. Brian turns 50 today. It may be a good thing we have a lockdown going on right now, because knowing Mr. (Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, CPC): Madam Brian, his birthday party would have been epic otherwise. Speaker, in December 2015, geologist André Gauthier was arrested in Dubai for reporting irregular transactions to the authori‐ Finally, I want to wish my mother, Mabel, a happy birthday. She ties of the United Arab Emirates. Detained by that country and sep‐ raised five of us boys, with only six and a half years between the arated from his family, he continued fighting to return home. five of us. I am not sure what Dad is getting Mom for her birthday this year, however, it is hard to top the Jersey cow he got her over When his family asked me for help in the spring of 2019, I im‐ 30 years ago that she got to milk by hand for over a decade. mediately agreed even though I had just been in politics a short while. We never gave up. I would like to thank all those who helped On behalf of the whole family, I wish Mom a happy birthday. in this matter. Thanks to my colleagues at Global Affairs Canada, the media and André's many friends and family members, we man‐ * * * aged to bring him home safe and sound after many years. ● (1135) It is extremely important to persevere and not lose hope in parlia‐ KAMLOOPS—THOMPSON—CARIBOO GRADUATES mentary affairs. André's story is a perfect example of that. Canada never forgets one of its own, and we must continue to protect our Mrs. Cathy McLeod (Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, citizens at home and around the world. I am extremely pleased CPC): Madam Speaker, the COVID pandemic has affected and about the outcome for André, and I look forward to seeing him in changed our lives in many ways. However, many people continued Saguenay soon. to persevere and show up to achieve their goals.

* * * The high-school and university graduates in Kamloops—Thomp‐ EID AL-FITR son—Cariboo riding have not only done the hard work necessary to receive their diplomas and degrees, but they have done so in an un‐ Mr. (Hull—Aylmer, Lib.): Madam Speaker, yes‐ expected and extraordinary time. Many students have had to learn terday Muslims in Hull—Aylmer celebrated the end of the month quickly to navigate online school. Students have been told to keep of Ramadan. This religious tradition gives believers an opportunity their social bubble small, and many have lost the chance to partake to reflect on values such as peace, harmony, forgiveness, and many in their important extracurricular activities. other values that we all hold dear whether we are Muslim or not. All the graduates have worked through these circumstances and Yesterday evening, many people observed Eid al-Fitr to mark the still managed to succeed. Not many people can say that they gradu‐ end of this sacred month despite the difficulties brought on by the ated during a pandemic, and I hope all of these students realize just pandemic. Unfortunately, this year, what is normally a warm cele‐ how proud I and everyone around them truly are of their efforts. bration full of joy, happiness and communion was marred by The traditional in-person celebrations may not be possible, but that tragedy: the death of a number of Muslims around the world. does not diminish the support that these exceptional students have.

Now more than ever, these horrific acts demand that we reflect I encourage members, if they know a graduate, to reach out to deeply on the values that Ramadan promotes and intensify our ef‐ them and share their congratulations and enthusiasm that surrounds forts to protect all members of the human family. their accomplishments. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7239

Oral Questions HUMAN RIGHTS ernment regulating their posts should be terrifying. However, if this Mr. Matthew Green (Hamilton Centre, NDP): Madam Speak‐ deeply flawed bill passes in this Parliament, do not worry, a Con‐ er, I rise today to lend my voice to a Palestinian Canadian. servative government will appeal it in the next one. These are her words: What we see in Sheikh Jarrah, Gaza, and all of Palestine is not new. Decades of * * * Israel's dehumanizing occupation has robbed: Palestinian children of their youth, parents of their children, children of their parents, and elders of their dignity. Pales‐ GOVERNMENT POLICIES tinian deaths must be understood as vanished dreams and mourning families, not merely as statistics. Israel is forcefully removing Palestinian families from their homes, demolishing their neighbourhoods, expanding illegal settlements, and dese‐ crating our places of worship. The necessity to put pressure on Israel to stop these Mr. (Mississauga East—Cooksville, Lib.): human rights violations is long overdue. Canada must show courage and act now. Madam Speaker, tomorrow, May 15, is the International Day of As a start, we must stop the sale of arms to Israel. Because Palestinian lives matter. Families. What an appropriate time to observe the day, as our gov‐ Hear us: our lives matter. ernment has just announced the Canada child benefit young child Those in the House who speak up will be remembered. Those supplement. Through this benefit, families could be receiving up who stay silent will be remembered. History will never forget. to $1,200 per child under the age of six. This benefit will help 1.6 million families and over two million children. * * * [Translation] POSTAL SERVICE ON THE LOWER NORTH SHORE During these very challenging times, since the start of the pan‐ demic, our government has recognized that families have been Mrs. Marilène Gill (Manicouagan, BQ): Madam Speaker, the largely impacted by the unpredictable expenses of COVID-19. This people of the Lower North Shore are sick and tired of all the prob‐ additional support will help pay for necessities such child care, lems with Canada Post. Their air mail service is being cut back food, medicine and clothing. I am proud of our government and its more and more each year, without any justification. Mail delivery commitment to supporting families, from our children to our se‐ takes too long, assuming it happens at all and the items are not sim‐ niors, through affordable housing, the Canada child benefit and in‐ ply lost. Postage fees are higher for them than for other citizens, but creases to the GIS and OAS, which have lifted over half a million they depend on this service for food, health care and clothing. children and seniors out of poverty. The worst thing about Canada Post's monopoly is the delivery times, especially for medication. This winter, one resident did not receive her chemotherapy drugs on time, while a child in my com‐ To all our Canadian families and seniors, we will get through this munity did not get his insulin injections. It is inhumane and unac‐ together. ceptable. I have attended meetings with other elected officials and repre‐ sentatives of this Crown corporation. The right questions were asked and the right solutions were proposed, and yet Canada Post refused to give us any answers or do anything. Why? ORAL QUESTIONS * * * [English] ● (1140) BILL C-10 Mr. (Calgary Rocky Ridge, CPC): Madam Speaker, [Translation] the heritage minister has dismissed and insulted critics of Bill C-10 as “extremist” while peddling his own tin-hatted conspiracy theory about big tech being in cahoots with Canadian academics just to NATIONAL DEFENCE spread disinformation about his bill. Despite all the backlash and the minister's vague promises of fu‐ Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, ture clarity amid his own incoherent and contradictory statements, CPC): Madam Speaker, the allegations of sexual misconduct the bill remains “a full-blown assault” on freedom of expression. against General Vance were properly handled. Who said that? It was the feminist Prime Minister of course, during an interview. He Remember, this minister is a lifelong, radical, anti-energy ac‐ said with a straight face that far too many sexual assault survivors, tivist. He admits that the whole point of Bill C-69 was to ensure both women and men, do not feel safe when it comes to testifying, that no Canadian energy project ever gets built again, and now he and that is why we must make changes. What a joke. He has been wants the power to regulate online content to be, in his words, con‐ Prime Minister for six years. He could have made these changes. sistent with the government's vision. To the energy workers who have lost their jobs at the hands of this government's vision, the prospect of this minister and his gov‐ Why is the Prime Minister insulting Canadians' intelligence? 7240 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Oral Questions [English] We know that we have a lot more work to do. It is something that Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): we, as a government, are absolutely committed to. Madam Speaker, our government takes allegations of sexual mis‐ conduct extremely seriously, and no one should feel unsafe at work. * * * That is why we passed Bill C-77, a declaration of victims rights that puts victims at the core of the military justice system, which re‐ CANADIAN HERITAGE views unfounded cases. We also created a sexual misconduct response centre. We know Ms. (Lethbridge, CPC): Madam Speaker, that we have a lot more work to do, and we are going to get it done. when it comes to content creation on YouTube, Canadians punch above their weight. Now, the government wants to step in and de‐ [Translation] termine who gets to be noticed and who has to be hidden; who gets Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, to succeed and, well, who gets to lose. CPC): Madam Speaker, in the same interview, the Prime Minister was asked why he was keeping his Minister of National Defence If Bill C-10 had been in place when Justin Bieber was just a kid on. He said that the Minister of National Defence had done an out‐ posting his music on YouTube, he probably would not have been standing job. Those words came from someone who treated two of discovered because his songs just are not Canadian enough, accord‐ his ministers callously, behaved inappropriately towards a journal‐ ing to the government's approval test. I ask members to let that sink ist, and did nothing in six years to fix the problem of sexual abuse in, for just a moment. Why is the minister moving ahead with a bill in the Canadian Forces. The bar is so low, no wonder he has such that punishes young artists? warped reasoning.

Does the Prime Minister think that Canadian women are experi‐ Ms. (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister encing this fiasco differently? of Canadian Heritage, Lib.): Madam Speaker, we are moderniz‐ [English] ing the Broadcasting Act, which has not been updated in 30 years, since we rented videos from video stores. We are asking web giants Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): who profit in Canada to contribute to the creation of Canadian sto‐ Madam Speaker, I will let the member opposite continue on with ries and music. This would support creators across our country. the partisan attack. We are going to stay focused on making sure that we have an inclusive environment inside the . That is why we have implemented the path to dignity and The bill would apply to social media companies only. It would respect, a strategy for long-term culture change to eliminate sexual ask social media companies to advise us of Canadian revenues, misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces. contribute a portion of those revenues to Canadian cultural produc‐ tion funds and make our creators discoverable. Individuals posting We know we have a lot more work to do. We also have a lot to social media are excluded. more work to do when it comes to systemic racism, which is why we have an independent panel working on that as well. We will get this done. Ms. Rachael Harder (Lethbridge, CPC): Madam Speaker, let me clarify: When the member says that the bill would make certain [Translation] artists discoverable, what she means is that it would move some up Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, in the queue and some down in the queue; it would pick winners CPC): Madam Speaker, it is not partisan to state the facts. and losers. It is sneaky, controlling and wrong. The fact is that the Deschamps report was filed in 2015, and it spelled out everything. The Prime Minister did not do anything, and If this bill had been in place when Shawn Mendes was a young, neither did his Minister of National Defence. In 2018, everyone aspiring artist posting to YouTube, where his popularity began, the was aware that there were allegations against General Vance, but government's Internet czar likely would have demoted him because we are being asked to believe that the Prime Minister knew noth‐ his songs are, well, just not Canadian enough. ing. Does he honestly take Canadian women for fools? Will the minister truly support Canada's young artists and cancel [English] Bill C-10? The question is for the minister, please. Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): Madam Speaker, as we have stated, any time information was ● (1145) brought forward on any type of allegations, we always immediately forwarded it to the appropriate agencies for the appropriate action, Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister which is something the member opposite and the former govern‐ of Canadian Heritage, Lib.): Madam Speaker, Canada's analysis ment also did when allegations were brought forward. However, the confirms that Bill C-10 remains consistent with the Charter's guar‐ Conservatives still appointed General Vance when there was an in‐ antee of freedom of speech. As a government, we have upheld, and vestigation going on at that time. we will continue to uphold, Canadians' fundamental rights. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7241

Oral Questions I would like to confirm once again that individuals posting to so‐ NATURAL RESOURCES cial media are specifically excluded in Bill C-10. Also, to be clear, Mr. Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, of the obligations for social media companies in the bill, none NDP): Madam Speaker, Hydro‑Québec is a renewable energy pio‐ would require them to restrict or review posts by individuals. neer and it thinks big. It intends to provide electricity to Boston and * * * New York City, and Quebec is very proud of that. [Translation] However, we have learned that the Canada Pension Plan Invest‐ OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ment Board is getting in Hydro‑Québec's way by funding a gas company in Texas that is challenging Hydro‑Québec's new trans‐ Ms. Christine Normandin (Saint-Jean, BQ): Madam Speaker, mission lines. yesterday, Quebec introduced a bill to promote and protect the French language. Many Quebeckers have the future of French at Will the government commit to finally letting Hydro‑Québec heart, but obviously not all. The Minister of Indigenous Services grow, create good jobs and thus reduce our overall greenhouse gas said that the bill was worrisome. He believes that promoting our emissions? common language is being done at the expense of minorities. How‐ ever, his own government recognizes the special situation of French Hon. Pablo Rodriguez (Leader of the Government in the speakers in an ocean of more than 360 million people, most of them House of Commons, Lib.): Madam Speaker, my colleague knows English speakers. full well that the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is com‐ pletely independent. I hope that he is not telling us that politicians Will the Prime Minister correct his minister? should be deciding how to invest Canadians' pensions, because that Hon. Mélanie Joly (Minister of Economic Development and is not our job. Official Languages, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I would like to clarify for my colleague that the protection and promotion of the French Hydro‑Québec's project in Maine is a very good project for the language in Quebec and across Canada is a priority for the govern‐ environment, for Quebec and for all of New England. Everyone ment. here is in favour of that project. We tabled a reform document in the House and, for the first time I want to reassure my colleague that we are on the same team. ever, the federal government has said that we must do more to pro‐ tect the French fact. That is why we intend to take the necessary * * * steps, in our area of jurisdiction, to protect the French fact. [English] At the same time, we will do so by protecting— INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): Ms. (North Island—Powell River, NDP): The hon. member for Saint‑Jean. Madam Speaker, access to clean water is a basic human right. In Ms. Christine Normandin (Saint-Jean, BQ): Madam Speaker, this country, indigenous communities have repeatedly been my question was about the statement made by the Minister of In‐ promised that this would be honoured. digenous Services who, I must say, made a mistake. He thought he In 1991, it was promised that by 2001 there would be clean wa‐ was defending a minority, but yesterday he took the side of the ter. It did not happen. The Prime Minister promised it by 2021, 20 huge anglophone majority in North America over the future of a years later. Oh wait, he meant 2023. I ask the minister to stop ex‐ minority language that is the common language in Quebec alone. plaining. The point is the promise has been broken too many times. Once again, we are forced to remind members that the only offi‐ cial language at risk in Canada is French. When will the government ensure that this basic human right is honoured for every human being in this country? I cannot believe this needs to be repeated once again, to a minis‐ ter from Quebec no less. ● (1150) Hon. (Minister of Indigenous Services, Lib.): Will the Prime Minister give his minister a reality check? Madam Speaker, the member failed to note that there are now no Hon. Mélanie Joly (Minister of Economic Development and longer any long-term water advisories in the province of British Official Languages, Lib.): Madam Speaker, my colleague is trying Columbia, thanks to the work that has been done and the plans put to make something out of nothing. into place throughout the past years. This includes the Semiahmoo first nation, which lifted its advisory last month. What is most important is that we all recognize that protecting and promoting the French language is important and that we ensure There is much more to be done. We continue to invest in indige‐ that linguistic minorities in Quebec and across the country are pro‐ nous communities to ensure they lift their long-term water advi‐ tected. sories and that the safety and security of clean water in communi‐ ties is assured well into 2023, 2024, 2025— That is what we said and that is what we are doing. We are walk‐ ing the talk and we are the first federal government in history to do The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): so. The hon. member for Mégantic—L'Érable. 7242 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Oral Questions [Translation] Subsection 13(5) of the blood regulations annex of the Food and Drugs Act clearly lays out that the Minister of Health may remove DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION the ban on accepting blood from gay men. This is not about the Mr. (Mégantic—L'Érable, CPC): Madam provinces; this is about the Minister of Health not acting. Why has Speaker, despite the Liberals' lip service and lofty promises, gay she not? men are still stigmatized when it comes to giving blood. Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Parliamentary Secretary to the Min‐ The Prime Minister promised in 2015, and again in 2019, that he ister of Health, Lib.): Madam Speaker, the decision to change the would put an end to the ban on gay men donating blood. This ban, discriminatory practice of the blood ban is not one the government based on sexual orientation rather than high-risk behaviours, is dis‐ can do on its own; it has to be done in conjunction with Héma- criminatory. Québec and Canadian Blood Services. We want this decision to be made. That is why we provided the funding. Why is the Prime Minister fostering homophobia by not keeping his word? I would ask the member opposite this. When she sat around the [English] cabinet table with the Harper Conservatives, why did they do noth‐ Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Parliamentary Secretary to the Min‐ ing to end this discriminatory practice? ister of Health, Lib.): Madam Speaker, we agree the blood ban is discriminatory. That is precisely why we worked and provided the We are taking action and moving forward. funding needed to Héma-Québec, as well as Canadian Blood Ser‐ Mr. (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, vices, to make these changes. We look forward to their bringing CPC): Madam Speaker, I am waiting for the day the member calls forward an application. It is not a decision the government can me homophobic or something, but here is the absolute truth about make on its own, but we encourage Héma-Québec and Canadian the current Liberal government: It wants the votes of gay men; it Blood Services to make this application so we can finally end this just does not want their blood. The Liberals are the first people to discriminatory practice. show up to a photo op or attack a premier or somebody else, but it [Translation] is their record that is under scrutiny because of their virtue sig‐ nalling and broken promises. Mr. Luc Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable, CPC): Madam Speaker, why should a man who has been in a relationship with the same man for 20 years be banned from giving blood, even if he has Stop the holding lines, stop the legal proceedings and keep your not been abstinent for three months? promise. On what date will you keep your promise and allow gay men to finally donate blood in this country? Giving blood means giving life, and gay men have just as much right as anyone to fully participate in our society without being pre‐ The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): I judged just because they are gay. would remind the hon. member that I made no promises. Monday is the International Day Against Homophobia. Will the The hon. parliamentary secretary. Prime Minister keep his promises by lifting the ban on gay men do‐ nating blood and putting an end to this unfair discrimination that is Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Parliamentary Secretary to the Min‐ depriving Canadians of blood that could save lives? ister of Health, Lib.): Madam Speaker, leave it to the Conserva‐ tives, when we agree this practice is discriminatory and want to [English] change it, to consider that virtue signalling. May I remind members Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Parliamentary Secretary to the Min‐ that a member of the Conservative Party recently had to apologize ister of Health, Lib.): Madam Speaker, yes, we absolutely agree for calling the LGBTQ2+ community “unclean”? this is a discriminatory practice. That is precisely why we put in place the funding needed for Héma-Québec and the Canadian We take no lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to Blood Services to do the studies that were needed. ending the discriminatory practice in this country. They sat on this for more than 10 years. We are actually moving forward to end this I will not take lessons from the Conservatives, who continually discriminatory practice. talk in this House against LGBTQ2+ rights. They have sat on this issue for more than 10 years. We took action right away and we ● (1155) worked to end— Hon. (Calgary Nose Hill, CPC): The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): Madam Speaker, the federal Liberal government has taken no ac‐ The hon. member for Calgary Nose Hill. tion to end the discriminatory and homophobic gay blood ban. Hon. Michelle Rempel Garner (Calgary Nose Hill, CPC): Health Canada is the regulator of the blood system, and the law Madam Speaker, the federal government has been trying to block states that the health minister may remove a condition around giv‐ Christopher Karas's court challenge, which argues that Health ing blood if she determines the condition is no longer necessary. Canada discriminates against him on the basis of sexual orientation There is no scientific basis for the ban. The law states that the because Health Canada is preventing him as a gay man from donat‐ health minister can make this change today. Instead, the Liberals ing blood. are blocking Christopher Karas in court. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7243

Oral Questions The minister should exercise her powers today and end it. Why When will the government replace Switch Health with a compa‐ will she not? Why is she perpetuating this homophobic practice? ny that can operate in French? Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Parliamentary Secretary to the Min‐ ister of Health, Lib.): Madam Speaker, if the practice could have [English] been ended simply by a stroke of the government's pen, why did the member opposite not do so when she sat around the cabinet table? Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Parliamentary Secretary to the Min‐ It is because this process has to move forward with Héma-Québec, ister of Health, Lib.): Madam Speaker, we absolutely agree that as well as Canadian Blood Services. However, we actually did fund testing needs to be done in a safe, fast and efficient manner in both more than 15 projects to move forward in ending this discriminato‐ official languages. This is precisely why we worked with Switch ry practice because we are committed to doing so, unlike the Con‐ Health originally to make sure that any issues were being dealt servatives, who are trying to clean up a mess on this file where they with. However, we have also moved forward with additional ser‐ have made outrageous and horrifying comments— vice providers, because, again, our commitment to making sure that The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): we get through this pandemic is ensuring that we have all the tools The hon. member for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry. being utilized, and those tools need to be utilized in both official Mr. Eric Duncan (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, languages in an efficient— CPC): Madam Speaker, the parliamentary secretary is trying to pivot away, but it is her record. It is the ability of the Liberal gov‐ The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): ernment, Health Canada and the health minister that can end it. She The hon. member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles. just heard how the health minister can end the blood ban right now, whenever the Liberals choose to. [Translation] The government did not promise to study it, do more research or take six years. It promised to end it because it is discrimination. She Mr. (Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, BQ): Madam Speak‐ knows the answer. The Canadian Medical Association, the All er, while Quebec is introducing a bill to protect French, French lan‐ Blood is Equal campaign and Canadians everywhere agree that this guage services in Ottawa continue to decline. That is the case for needs to go, not after more studies; they want action now. On what our veterans. date will the government keep its promise, end the court cases— The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): The hon. parliamentary secretary. In 2018, the veterans ombudsman showed that it took 19 weeks to process a claim in English and 52 weeks to process the same Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Parliamentary Secretary to the Min‐ claim in French. That is a year of waiting. Three years later, the ister of Health, Lib.): Madam Speaker, once again, the Conserva‐ minister admitted in committee that this unfair situation still per‐ tives are trying to pretend that the process that exists does not in‐ sists. clude anyone outside of government. If government could have made this change alone, why did the Conservatives in 10 years not do so? This process has to be made in conjunction with an applica‐ After three years with no results, what is the minister doing today tion through Héma-Québec and Canadian Blood Services. It is a to ensure that French language services— discriminatory practice that we absolutely want to end, and that is precisely why we have moved forward with it, including reducing the months down to three, again, something Conservatives never ● (1200) did in 10 years. I take no— The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): The hon. member for Berthier—Maskinongé. The hon. minister.

* * * Hon. Mélanie Joly (Minister of Economic Development and [Translation] Official Languages, Lib.): Madam Speaker, here in Ottawa, we take our responsibilities seriously, and we know we have to do OFFICIAL LANGUAGES more for French. Mr. (Berthier—Maskinongé, BQ): Madam Speaker, while Quebec is introducing a bill to protect French, French language services in Ottawa continue to decline. That is exactly why we will make sure that complaints in both French and English receive equal treatment. We will make sure the Ottawa gave Switch Health the task of testing travellers for public service meets its obligations in terms of bilingualism. We COVID-19, but the company is unable to provide services in will try to improve coordination significantly by creating a new French and is forcing Quebeckers to quarantine for up to a month central agency, and we will strengthen the Commissioner of Offi‐ before giving them their results. We already knew this spring that cial Languages' powers. Switch Health had failed to properly manage COVID-19 testing for foreign workers, so it was clear the company was not going to be able to properly manage the testing for all of Quebec. Here in Ottawa, we take our responsibilities seriously. 7244 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Oral Questions [English] four lately. Even the most essential items have become unafford‐ able, like plywood to fix a roof or food to go on the barbecue. It is FOREIGN AFFAIRS unbelievable. The Liberals' out-of-control spending is putting infla‐ Mr. Marty Morantz (Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia— tionary pressures on the middle class, students and seniors, who are Headingley, CPC): Madam Speaker, violence has erupted in Israel, struggling just to make ends meet. the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas has fired thousands of rockets into civilian areas, demonstrating its obvious intent to kill as many Is‐ raeli citizens as possible. This, along with deliberatively setting up Why is the Liberal government forcing working Canadians to bases in civilian areas using Palestinian civilians as human shields, pay a hidden tax through growing inflation and the rising cost of constitutes war crimes. living? The Minister of Foreign Affairs' statements to date on this vio‐ Mr. (Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy lence have been ambiguous at best. Will the minister state unequiv‐ Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of ocally today that he supports Israel's right to defend itself, just as Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, President Biden has done? Lib.): Madam Speaker, with respect to the hon. member's assertion, Hon. (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lib.): I would point him to the testimony of the Governor of the Bank of Madam Speaker, our comments and statements have been crystal Canada, who appeared before the finance committee and explained clear. The indiscriminate barrage of rocket attacks fired by Hamas in clear terms that the inflation we have seen in the Canadian econ‐ into populated areas of Israel is absolutely unacceptable and must omy is precisely where he predicted it would be and is well within cease immediately. Canada supports Israel's right to live in peace the 1% to 3% goal. with its neighbours within secure boundaries and recognizes Israel's right and duty to ensure its own security. Canada remains fully I would remind the hon. member, however, that his solution to committed to the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in this problem, to stop government spending, would result in the gov‐ the Middle East. Canada remains a steadfast ally of Israel and a ernment removing essential benefits that are helping support fami‐ friend to the Palestinian people. lies and businesses in their time of need. Canadians can rest assured that our government will be there for them, as long as it takes, no * * * matter what it takes, unlike the Conservatives. AIRLINE INDUSTRY Mrs. (Calgary Midnapore, CPC): Madam * * * Speaker, the U.K. has announced its restart plan for international travel, using the traffic light system, but here in Canada we are still HOUSING stuck under the Liberals' third wave and the hotel quarantine pro‐ gram, with no end in sight. It is not just like flipping a light off and Mr. Eric Melillo (Kenora, CPC): Madam Speaker, Canadians on; both airports and airlines will need time to get things up and have been shocked by the housing crisis in Nunavut, where thou‐ running again. sands of families are on wait-lists and many homes are overcrowd‐ ed, in poor condition or riddled with mould. Yet, somehow When will the government do the right thing, provide some hope Nunavut's housing needs have been completely overlooked under for Canadians and come up with a comprehensive restart strategy the rapid housing program and are once again underfunded in the for air travel? latest Liberal budget. [Translation] Why is the government so reluctant to support northern housing? Ms. (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her question. ● (1205) The Minister of Transport has worked on a number of files that Mr. (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister are important to Canada, such as support for the air transportation of Families, Children and Social Development (Housing), Lib.): sector and the fight against COVID‑19, as well as on projects that Madam Speaker, let me first correct the record. Our government are national in scope to develop a safe, efficient transportation sys‐ has made historic investments in housing, not just in Nunavut but tem. also in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. With the rapid housing initiative, close to 40% of the projects went to indigenous- The minister will be looking at this very issue, and I would be led housing providers. happy to work on it with my colleague going forward. * * * The north presents some challenges. We await the tabling of the [English] HUMA report on the urban, rural and northern housing strategy to take next steps. The minister has engaged the housing advisory THE ECONOMY council to create this new program, which will provide additional Mr. (York—Simcoe, CPC): Madam Speaker, support for those people in the north looking for housing, in partic‐ clearly no one in the Liberal government has had to buy a two-by- ular in Nunavut. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7245

Oral Questions We look forward to the progress we are making and will build on HOUSING the $70-billion national housing strategy, which commits to success in just this area. Mr. (Etobicoke Centre, Lib.): Madam Speaker, every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home, * * * but far too many people in my riding of Etobicoke Centre are forced to make the impossible choice between paying their rent or PUBLIC SAFETY buying groceries. That is why this week I was so proud that our Mr. Richard Cannings (South Okanagan—West Kootenay, government announced $30.5 million in new funding to build 113 NDP): Madam Speaker, flooding along the Mackenzie River has new affordable homes as part of a new project located at 75 Tan‐ already devastated Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River, and is dridge Crescent in Etobicoke. This new project will build afford‐ threatening four more communities. Yesterday, people from nearby able homes for those who need them most, including those who are communities generously organized an airlift of vital supplies into experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. the flooded towns. Meanwhile, the Liberal government's response is that it will consider future funding requests. Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Will the government act immediately to help the people in Children and Social Development (Housing) update the House on Northwest Territories who have been flooded out of their homes? what the government—

[Translation] The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): The hon. parliamentary secretary. Mr. Joël Lightbound (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minis‐ ter of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Mr. Adam Vaughan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (Housing), Lib.): Our government is actively monitoring the flood levels. We need Madam Speaker, the rapid housing initiative has been a remarkable to determine which measures to take, and we will certainly support success. In just over six months, we have created the $1-billion in‐ the provinces and territories if they ask for help. vestment for close to 4,700 housing units that will house well over 5,000 people who were previously homeless or at risk. Through the Government Operations Centre, Public Safety Canada is closely monitoring high-risk zones, including in British In budget 2021, we added another $1.5 billion to the rapid hous‐ Columbia, Manitoba, , Quebec, New Brunswick and across ing initiative. This will hopefully make even further inroads into the country. We are certainly ready to support the provinces and ter‐ eliminating chronic homelessness in the country, in particular in ritories that might need the federal government's help in case of places like Etobicoke where the member comes from. flooding.

* * * I will also add that the previous question asked about what we [English] did in Nunavut. There were three projects under the rapid housing initiative approved in Nunavut, all with the Nunavut Housing Cor‐ INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS poration. We are making a difference in people's lives— Ms. (Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, NDP): The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): Madam Speaker, yesterday, the Manitoba government violated the The hon. member for South Surrey—White Rock. constitutional rights of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin and Tataskweyak Cree Nations by approving a final licence to Manitoba Hydro that in‐ cludes parameters to further devastate these communities. * * *

In the past, the federal government has helped first nations to de‐ STATISTICS CANADA fend their rights. This led to the negotiation of the historic Northern Flood Agreement, but what about today in this era of reconcilia‐ Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay (South Surrey—White Rock, tion? Where is the federal government? CPC): Madam Speaker, last week, Al in my riding received his census form in the mail, only to learn that it must be completed on‐ Will the federal government step in and support OPCN and TCN line by this week. Al and other constituents, particularly seniors, do as they defend their rights and protect their nations? not have a computer in their home. With public health restrictions in place, they cannot go to a library or a friend’s house to access Mr. (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of one. That is more stress for Canadians in the middle of this pre‐ Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.): Madam Speaker, ventable third wave. we take very seriously the constitutional rights of indigenous peo‐ ples, including in the case that has been mentioned by the member opposite. I would be happy to follow up with her at a later date to When will the Liberal government stop leaving Canadians be‐ get more details about the matter and see what can be pursued. hind? 7246 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Oral Questions ● (1210) are not closing the borders, we are closing the borders. Canadians Mr. (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of just want their lives back. Innovation, Science and Industry (Innovation and Industry), Lib.): Madam Speaker, I would be very happy to reach out to the Yesterday, the CDC issued guidance that fully vaccinated Ameri‐ member and ensure we take down the information and do every‐ cans could ditch the mask if they were outdoors or indoors. That is thing we possibly can. how we combat vaccine hesitancy. In Canada, we are just not that Mr. (Cypress Hills—Grasslands, CPC): fortunate. Madam Speaker, farmers back home are working long hours to get their crops in the ground. Many of them have reached out to report How do the lives of half-vaccinated Canadians change? Does that StatsCan workers are going around farm to farm with the 2021 anything change? Is there any guidance on this or is that just too census and are needlessly holding up production. To make matters much to ask? worse, they show up the day before the census is due, making it im‐ possible for it to be filled out on time. This is no way to treat farm‐ ers who are in the middle of their busy season. Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Parliamentary Secretary to the Min‐ ister of Health, Lib.): Madam Speaker, every country around the Why can StatsCan not send surveys in the mail, on time, instead world is looking at life post-COVID, and Canada is no exception. of driving around rural Saskatchewan? We all want to return to normal. Mr. Ali Ehsassi (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (Innovation and Industry), Our government has been working hard with provinces and terri‐ Lib.): Madam Speaker, we understand full well how incredibly im‐ tories to provide the best science and evidence-based guidance. In portant it is to make informed decisions. We have made every effort fact, we will have more to say on this later today. to ensure that Canadians are aware and that this information is put to good use. However, I want to remind Canadians that the best way to get However, I will undertake to reach out to my friend to ensure we through this pandemic is to keep signing up for vaccinations and to do an incredible job in receiving information from our farmers. follow local public health measures. * * * * * * HEALTH ● (1215) Mr. (Cariboo—Prince George, CPC): Madam Speaker, federal leadership on this pandemic has been confusing [Translation] and chaotic every step of the way. The risk is low, the risk is high; do not wear masks, wear masks; we are not closing the borders, we are closing the borders. Canadians just want their lives back. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Yesterday, the CDC issued guidance that fully vaccinated Ameri‐ Mr. (Lévis—Lotbinière, CPC): Madam cans could ditch the mask if they were outdoors or indoors. That is Speaker, the fight to end violence against women is a critical issue how we combat vaccine hesitancy. In Canada, we are just not that for our country and one that requires action and political decisions. fortunate. All leaders in the House of Commons and the Senate need to set partisanship aside and take a firm stand on this issue. How do the lives of half-vaccinated Canadians change? Does anything change? Is there any guidance on this or is that too much to ask? Will the government support Bill S-231 and Bill C-293 and help move them forward as quickly as possible before this session of [Translation] Parliament ends? The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): The hon. member for Saint‑Jean on a point of order. [English] Ms. Christine Normandin: Madam Speaker, there was no inter‐ pretation during the last intervention. Ms. (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minis‐ [English] ter for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic De‐ velopment, Lib.): Madam Speaker, everyone has a right to live The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): free of violence and our hearts go out to everyone who has been The translation does not seem to be working. It is working now. impacted by this. Our government is fully behind the address to end I would ask the member for Cariboo—Prince George to restart and support a national action plan to end gender-based violence. his question. Our investments alone support over 1,500 organizations that deliver essential services to end gender-based violence. Mr. Todd Doherty: Madam Speaker, federal leadership on this pandemic has been confusing and chaotic every step of the way. The risk is low, the risk is high; do not wear masks, wear masks; we We will work tirelessly to end gender-based violence. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7247

Oral Questions [Translation] Parks Canada has failed to act and instead deprived Canadians ac‐ cess to a national park. OFFICIAL LANGUAGES Ms. (Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Mat‐ Barricades, vandalism, theft and the prohibited use of cameras apédia, BQ): Madam Speaker, while legislation to protect the are only some of the consequences of this illegal occupation, not to French language is being introduced in , the decline of mention numerous safety hazards. services in our language continues in Ottawa. We see this at the RCMP. Access to information requests take a Why has the minister failed to end this illegal occupation in Rid‐ very long time at the RCMP. It is far from a model of transparency. ing Mountain National Park? The situation is even worse on the French side, as the organization Hon. (Minister of Environment and Cli‐ openly admitted to La Presse. It candidly admitted that most em‐ mate Change, Lib.): Madam Speaker, certainly it is an important ployees speak only English, which means that only a few people time for Parks Canada as we begin to reopen for the coming year, can handle French requests. and it is important that all Canadians have the ability to access our Will the government take action to ensure that the RCMP treats parks. francophones with the respect they deserve? This is an ongoing issue, as the hon. member knows. We have Hon. Mélanie Joly (Minister of Economic Development and discussed this in the past. It is something we are working through to Official Languages, Lib.): Madam Speaker, francophones are ab‐ try to find a mutually acceptable and appropriate solution to this solutely entitled to the same respect as all anglophones in Canada. ongoing challenge. That is why we decided to modernize the Official Languages Act and introduce an ambitious reform document that will give the pub‐ ● (1220) lic service more resources and tools to ensure that institutional bilingualism is implemented and respected. It will be a pleasure to Mr. (Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, CPC): work with my colleague on this issue. Madam Speaker, that is not good enough. Mr. (La Pointe-de-l'Île, BQ): Madam Speaker, at a time when Quebec is rallying and its government is introducing Documents reveal that local law enforcement raised public safety a bill on its national language, in Ottawa, the provision of federal concerns many times to Parks Canada, and that conflict has already services in French continues to decline. occurred. We now know there is no plan to fully reopen the Lake Audy Campground. If public safety is further compromised be‐ The current act requires federal departments and agencies to re‐ cause Parks Canada refuses to act, the minister will be directly re‐ port on their services in the official languages. Half of them are not sponsible. even doing it. They would rather break the law than report on their services in French. Why has the minister ignored public safety concerns and failed to ensure all Canadians can safely enjoy their national parks? The Liberals talk a good game, but what is preventing them from taking action and enforcing the existing act? Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Environment and Cli‐ Hon. Mélanie Joly (Minister of Economic Development and mate Change, Lib.): Madam Speaker, as I indicated before, public Official Languages, Lib.): Madam Speaker, it goes without saying safety is of the utmost priority to this government, and I think to all that we enforce the Official Languages Act. members of the House. This has been an ongoing challenge that we are working to resolve. It is important this is done in a thoughtful However, we do need to give it more teeth, which is why we and constructive way, and that is exactly what we are doing. made a historic decision this winter to make ambitious reforms to the act. We want to provide more tools to enforce language rights in * * * Canada, and in particular to protect the French language, which is a minority language. FOREST INDUSTRY That is why I will have the opportunity to work with the Presi‐ Mr. (Yellowhead, CPC): Madam Speaker, in dent of the Treasury Board to enforce the act, but I hope that I will my region of Canada, the forest industry needs help from the gov‐ have the support of the Bloc Québécois when we introduce the bill ernment. It is facing an epidemic caused by the mountain pine bee‐ to modernize the Official Languages Act. tles. The species destroys many acres of pine trees every year and are expanding east, causing damage along the eastern slopes of the * * * Rockies. [English] The mountain pine beetles in Jasper and Hinton are a genetic mix PARKS CANADA of the northern and southern mountain pine beetles that are stronger Mr. Dan Mazier (Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, CPC): and more destructive. Madam Speaker, one year later and the illegal occupation of the Lake Audy Campground in Riding Mountain National Park contin‐ Will the federal government take action to reduce the population ues. This occupation violates the National Parks Act. However, of this harmful invasive species? 7248 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Oral Questions Mr. Marc Serré (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of many of the programs, including for certain businesses that have Natural Resources, Lib.): Madam Speaker, we are working close‐ had a change in ownership. ly with provinces and municipalities to help slow the spread and mitigate the impact of forest pests in Canada as well as reduce the With respect to the member's assertion about vaccinations, I risk of infestation in areas that are not affected. would remind the hon. member that Canada is currently third Our government invested $20 million annually in scientific re‐ among all G20 countries in terms of the rate of people who have search to address the risk posed to our forests. We remain focused actually taken their first dose, and Canadians are being vaccinated on science-based solutions. We will continue working with our faster than citizens of any other country today. I am looking for‐ partners and invest to protect Canada's trees from infestation. ward this summer to enjoying some of the businesses and restau‐ rants in my own community. * * * [Translation] Mr. Michael Cooper (St. Albert—Edmonton, CPC): Madam Speaker, my constituent Abhi opened a restaurant, the Flame RAIL TRANSPORTATION Kitchen, just before COVID. Since then he has been unable to draw Mrs. Brenda Shanahan (Châteauguay—Lacolle, Lib.): a wage and the restaurant is at risk of permanently closing, yet his Madam Speaker, the people of Lac‑Mégantic and all Quebeckers business has been completely shut out of the government's COVID will forever remember the rail disaster in Lac‑Mégantic. supports because of a failure to include new businesses. Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport tell the House what progress has been made on the rail bypass and For a government that claims to have Canadians' backs, why af‐ what our government is doing to support the people of Lac‑Mégan‐ ter 14 months does the government not have Abhi's back and the tic? backs of new business owners like him? Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Parliamentary Secretary to ● (1225) the Minister of Transport, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Châteauguay—Lacolle for her important question. Mr. Sean Fraser (Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy We are working tirelessly for the community of Lac‑Mégantic. Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of This week, our government reaffirmed its commitment to complet‐ Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, ing the rail bypass project by 2023. Construction is scheduled to be‐ Lib.): Madam Speaker, at the outset of this pandemic we moved gin in the spring of 2022, and the preparation of the plans and spec‐ forward with a suite of policies that were designed to support as ifications will begin in the coming weeks. many businesses as possible, as quickly as possible. In order to pro‐ tect the integrity of the systems that we put in place, we used the We are keeping the community informed of the project's revenue from the year prior as a comparator to ensure that we were progress. We will do everything in our power to complete this providing funding in a targeted way to help businesses survive. project within the established timeframe. * * * Going forward, a number of programs that we put in place could [English] help businesses keep their doors open and hire new workers, in‐ cluding new financing programs that are available for businesses to COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE invest in themselves and purchase new pieces of equipment. Mr. James Cumming (Edmonton Centre, CPC): Madam Speaker, Zenari’s has been an Edmonton favourite Italian restaurant With respect to new businesses, we are going to continue to look for over 30 years, but because it reincorporated in 2020 it did not for solutions to support those, so they can help contribute to the re‐ qualify for the federal relief programs. This business has lost its covery going forward. vast customer base due to the hollowing out of downtown Edmon‐ ton caused by this government’s slow vaccine rollout. Statistics Mr. (Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, Canada reported over 200,000 jobs lost in April alone, and Zenari’s CPC): Madam Speaker, it has been over a year since the start of may soon add another 20. the pandemic. While other countries are emerging from this crisis, Will the Prime Minister admit that he has failed businesses like Canada is in the middle of a Liberal third wave. Zenari’s, which, if it was south of the border, would be fully back in business? Conservatives have consistently asked the government to provide Mr. Sean Fraser (Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy a plan with benchmarks and targets for reopening so that businesses Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of and families, such as those in my riding in northern Saskatchewan, Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, can get back to normal. Last week, the Government of Lib.): Madam Speaker, with great respect, our government has put Saskatchewan announced its three-step reopening road map that a series of programs in place to support households and businesses clearly laid out a plan for the people of Saskatchewan. from the very beginning of this pandemic. That is why so many have been able to survive the storm. We have even made changes to Where is the government's plan? May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7249

Oral Questions Mr. Sean Fraser (Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy There can be no more half-measures. Will the minister commit to Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of a national passenger transportation strategy that serves all Canadi‐ Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, ans? Lib.): Madam Speaker, it is important in the middle of a global public health emergency that we do not take our eyes off what is [Translation] most important. We need to continue to support Canadians through the ongoing public health emergency that the COVID-19 pandemic Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Parliamentary Secretary to represents. the Minister of Transport, Lib.): Madam Speaker, Greyhound's I would remind the hon. member that during their time of need decision to cease operations in Canada is disappointing. We know we supported 9 million Canadians with CERB, so they could keep that many Canadians depend on this service for transportation, and food on the table. We have helped 5.3 million workers keep their the transportation industry has been hit hard this year. jobs with the wage subsidy, and over 80% of the money that has been spent to help Canadians get through this pandemic has come We have been there from the beginning to provide financial sup‐ from the federal government, including through the safe restart port through various programs, including the Canada emergency agreement, to help Canadians enjoy and succeed in their communi‐ wage subsidy. We will continue to be there to protect jobs and work ties during this pandemic. with provincial partners to support the transportation industry.

We will continue to be there for Canadians as long— * * * The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes): The hon. [English] member for Guelph.

* * * INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS

AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould (Vancouver Granville, Ind.): Mr. (Guelph, Lib.): Madam Speaker, we know Madam Speaker, speaking to the UNDRIP legislation today, the good things grow in Ontario. The adoption of environmentally sus‐ justice minister said that if Bill C-262 had not been delayed in the tainable practices in agriculture is a priority for our government. last Parliament, the government would be working on an action We are proud of the Living Laboratories initiative that brings to‐ plan for its implementation. gether farmers, scientists and other partners to develop, test and share innovative agricultural practices and technologies. Let us not kid ourselves. The fact is the government delayed the important work of true reconciliation due to political expediency. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture There have been over five years of promises, and very little action and Agri-Food tell us about our role in protecting important water‐ on rights recognition. ways and conserving soil health in Ontario?

Mr. (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Bill C-15 is a small first step. Will the government stop making Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.): Madam Speaker, our govern‐ excuses, do its work, get its own house in order and change its ment is investing $4.2 million to launch a living lab in Ontario. laws, policies and operational practices to ensure indigenous peo‐ This will be the fourth of its kind, following similar collaborations ples can be self-determining? in the Atlantic region, the Prairies and Quebec.

The research will focus on reducing runoff from agricultural land ● (1230) into Lake Erie, improving water quality, conserving soil health and increasing biodiversity. Those are the tools farmers need to set the Mr. Arif Virani (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of stage for tomorrow's agriculture. Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.): Madam Speaker, we take very seriously the issues that relate to indigenous reconcili‐ * * * ation and UNDRIP. TRANSPORTATION We thank the member opposite for her contributions to this mat‐ Mr. Taylor Bachrach (Skeena—Bulkley Valley, NDP): Madam ter in her previous role as minister of justice. The government stood Speaker, news that Greyhound is ending service in Canada is a behind Romeo Saganash's private member's bill in the last Parlia‐ huge blow for rural Canadians who depend on the bus. More than ment. It is unfortunate that it did not secure passage at that time due an inconvenience, it is also a safety concern for indigenous women to Conservative opposition in the Senate. and girls, seniors, students and Canadians who do not have their own cars. That is why we have tabled Bill C-15, why we are working with Instead of ensuring services, the government stood by and did opposition parties to secure the passage of Bill C-15, and why we nothing for years as Greyhound cut routes. It has allowed rural are very keen to have UNDRIP see the light of day and achieve communities to be left behind. royal assent. 7250 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Government Orders ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS [Translation] [English] All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS please say nay. Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Presi‐ dent of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Some hon. members: Nay. Intergovernmental Affairs and to the Leader of the Govern‐ ment in the House of Commons, Lib.): Madam Speaker, pursuant The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes): There is to Standing Order 36(8)(a) I have the honour to table, in both offi‐ not unanimous consent. cial languages, the government's response to one petition. This re‐ sponse will be tabled in an electronic format. * * * While I am on my feet, I move: [English] That the House do now proceed to Orders of the Day. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes): The UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF question is on the motion. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ACT [Translation] The House resumed from May 12 consideration of the motion If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to that Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration request a recorded division or that the motion be adopted on divi‐ on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, be read the third time and sion, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair. passed. The hon. member for Kingston and the Islands. Mr. (Parliamentary Secretary to the [English] Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and to the Minis‐ Mr. Mark Gerretsen: Madam Speaker, I would ask that the mo‐ ter of Canadian Heritage (Sport), Lib.): Madam Speaker, I will tion be carried on division. be sharing my time with my friend and colleague, the member for Oakville North—Burlington. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes): Is that agreed? Today, I am speaking to members from the traditional territory of Some hon members: Agreed. the Haudenosaunee, Attawandaron, Anishinabe, Huron-Wendat, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes): I declare the motion carried on division. I would also like to acknowledge that I arrived here as an athlete. (Motion agreed to) An Inuit invention, the kayak, was originally built and invented for transportation and hunting. I got to use it for sport, and I am very grateful for that. GOVERNMENT ORDERS [English] Just over 10 years ago, Canada endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Then, in 2019, the Ms. Elizabeth May: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order, I Prime Minister made a commitment to introduce legislation on its know this is difficult, but in a situation where another member, the implementation before the end of 2020, and here we are today at its member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith, has notified the Speaker's office third reading in the House. of an emergency matter, with what just occurred it would seem that there is no rubric left for an appeal for an emergency debate. I wish to begin by acknowledging all of the hard work, especially I wonder if the hon. members are aware of that, and if there the significant role that indigenous leaders from Canada, like Willie could be unanimous consent to allow the member for Nanaimo— Littlechild, have played in the development of the declaration itself Ladysmith to present the call for an emergency debate. Clearly, by over the last 25 years. It is a lifetime of indigenous advocacy and the time we assemble again, the emergency could be a full-scale tireless efforts championing indigenous and human rights that have war. brought us to this important milestone today. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes): The hon. member is correct that, with the Orders of the Day, there is no op‐ Bill C-15 is a turning point. For far too long, and despite robust portunity at this point to table a request for an emergency debate. constitutional and legal protections, indigenous rights have not However, since the hon. member has asked for unanimous consent been fully respected. While progress continues to be made, it has to allow for the request for an emergency debate, I will test the been slow and grave harms have continued to occur, including to House. indigenous women and girls. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7251

Government Orders We have a responsibility, as a country, to recognize and respect ● (1235) the rights of indigenous peoples, to uphold the protections that are part of the fabric of our nation, and that as a government we take Throughout engagement, and again through the committee pro‐ steps to ensure that those rights are reflected and considered when cess, we heard from indigenous peoples on the need to reduce the we make new laws or introduce new policies. We must work to‐ three-year maximum time frame to a shorter one. As a result, we gether with indigenous peoples to build our relationship and seek to did just that, bringing it down to a maximum of two years to rein‐ avoid lengthy court cases whenever we can. No less important is force the Government of Canada's commitment to work with in‐ for all of us, as Canadians, to understand why this is relevant for us, digenous peoples from coast to coast to coast to elaborate how to to our lives, and to debunk myths and misconceptions so that we turn commitments into action and to achieve the objectives of the can move forward inclusively with values that ensure dignity and declaration. respect for all.

Indigenous rights are not new rights. However, the declaration These are minimum requirements of the action plan. We recog‐ acknowledges and affirms the rights of indigenous peoples. Imple‐ nize while we need to include measures for reviewing and amend‐ menting the declaration is about respecting human rights. The Truth ing the plan, this initial phase is the beginning of a process, one that and Reconciliation Commission called upon the Government of will continue to evolve over time in partnership with indigenous Canada to fully adopt and implement the declaration as the frame‐ peoples. work for reconciliation. Bill C-15 responds to call to action 43 to do just that. In terms of implementation of the declaration, this is a whole-of- The action plan that is required under Bill C-15 to be developed government responsibility. Bill C-15 implicates all federal ministers in consultation and co-operation with indigenous peoples will also in the development and implementation of an action plan, as it respond to the call to action 44. This call to action requires the should. Reconciliation is not the responsibility of a single minister Government of Canada to develop a national action plan, strategies or government department. Bringing about meaningful change re‐ and other concrete measures to achieve the goals of the declaration. quires action from all areas of government.

Development of an action plan will require broad and in-depth This government's Speech from the Throne and ministerial man‐ engagement with indigenous partners across the country to discuss date letters have made it clear the path to reconciliation requires ev‐ their various priorities. Bill C-15 sets out minimum requirements eryone's participation. Achieving the objectives of the declaration for what the action plan must address. These elements of the legis‐ and further aligning federal laws with the declaration will take lation were included in direct response to what was heard consis‐ time. However, we are not starting from scratch and we are not sit‐ tently throughout the fall 2020 engagement process with indigenous ting idle while we wait for the development of an action plan. partners. These measures are focused on three areas.

First are measures to address injustices, combatting prejudice The Government of Canada has taken concrete measures to ad‐ and eliminating all forms of violence and discrimination, including vance its relationship with indigenous peoples in a way that aligns systemic discrimination against indigenous peoples, indigenous el‐ with the principles set out in the declaration. This includes areas ders, youth, children, women, men, persons with disabilities, gen‐ such as enabling self-determination and self-government through der-diverse persons and two-spirit persons. I would note that the the recognition and implementation of rights, the establishment of Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, of which permanent bilateral mechanisms to jointly identify priorities with I am a proud member and contributor, has unanimously adopted an indigenous leaders and an increased indigenous participation in de‐ important amendment to this provision, which is the addition of a cision-making on socio-economic and land matters, to name a few. specific reference to racism and systemic racism. The addition ac‐ knowledges that while there are linkages between discrimination As of May 2020, there were nine federal laws that refer to and and racism, there are specific harms and legacies in relation to were created within the spirit of the declaration. They include laws racism that need to be identified and addressed. The Government of regarding indigenous languages, indigenous child and family ser‐ Canada wants to make its position clear that it will stand against vices, and indigenous participation in environmental impact assess‐ racism and work toward eradicating it wherever it exists. ments and other regulatory processes. We know much more work is required with indigenous peoples to ensure federal laws more fully Second, the plan must also contain measures promoting mutual protect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples. respect and understanding as well as good relations, including through human rights education. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the ongoing health, Third are measures relating to monitoring, oversight, recourse or food security, housing, economic, governance, policing and other remedy, or other accountability measures that will be need to be de‐ vulnerabilities and gaps that continue to impact indigenous peoples veloped with respect to the implementation of the declaration. Dur‐ and communities. We are working hard to create new opportunities ing one of our committee studies, a second amendment to clause 6 to turn the page on a colonial structure and build stronger and last‐ was adopted relating to the time frame associated with the develop‐ ing relationships, close socio-economic gaps and promote greater ment of the action plan. prosperity for indigenous peoples and all Canadians. 7252 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Government Orders Over the past months, we engaged closely with national indige‐ volve, the duty to ensure participation, the duty to fully listen and nous organizations and heard from modern treaty and self-govern‐ listen actively. It is a collaboration and a partnership. ing nations, rights holders, indigenous youth, and national and re‐ gional indigenous organizations, including those representing in‐ digenous women and two-spirit and LGBTQ2+ peoples on the pro‐ posed legislation. The feedback we received has shaped the devel‐ That is part of shedding our colonial past and moving forward in opment of the legislative proposal. partnership without this age-old paternalistic approach that has left people out of the conversation and out of important decisions. Bill C-15 now includes an acknowledgement of the ongoing need to respect and promote the inherent rights of indigenous peo‐ ples, a respect for gender diversity, the importance of respecting treaties and agreements and the need to take distinctions into ac‐ ● (1245) count while implementing the legislation, including with elders, youth, children, persons with disabilities, women, men, gender-di‐ verse and two-spirit persons. [Translation] What is needed is a fundamental and foundational change. It is about respecting indigenous rights and respecting diversity. It is about righting historical wrongs. It is about shedding our colonial Ms. Christine Normandin (Saint-Jean, BQ): Madam Speaker, past. It is about writing the next chapter together, as partners, and we have heard a lot about how Bill C‑15 could potentially affect building meaningful relationships and trust in that process. Quebec and its ability to make sovereign decisions. I would like to hear my colleague's thoughts on how Bill C‑15 is connected to This will not happen overnight, but we must take the necessary Quebec sovereignty. steps along that path, starting with implementing Bill C-15. I look forward to the journey we take to get there. It has been a sincere honour and privilege to serve on this committee with my col‐ leagues. Mr. Adam van Koeverden: Madam Speaker, I thank my col‐ league for her question and for her participation in the committee. ● (1240) The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes): Before we go to questions and comments, I want to inform the House that because of the proceedings on the time allocation motion, Govern‐ [English] ment Orders will be extended by 30 minutes. Questions and comments, the hon. member for Sherwood Park— Fort Saskatchewan. We are talking about full participation in decisions that have a great impact on indigenous people. This is not about the many na‐ Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, tions that exist in Canada. This bill does not have great implications CPC): Madam Speaker, to my colleague, and following up on on Quebec's sovereignty. It is absolutely enshrined in Canada's questions that were asked to the justice minister, he at one time re‐ Constitution, as it should be. This is about fairness and full partici‐ ferred to this bill as amounting to a reset. I am struggling to find pation. UNDRIP is a globally recognized step in the right direction out, particularly in the context of free, prior and informed consent, toward truth and reconciliation and it is the right path forward. what the change would actually be. In Canadian law right now, there is a duty to consult. The minis‐ ter's description of FPIC sounds like a lot like a rehashing of the ex‐ Mr. Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, isting legal duty to consult. He talks about FPIC including engaging NDP): Madam Speaker, one of the proudest moments of my parlia‐ with indigenous communities from the beginning, including their mentary career was my vote in favour of Bill C-262 at third reading perspectives and ensuring they are heard. That is, as I understand it, in the last Parliament. COVID-19 has demonstrated that the federal the existing legal duty to consult. government is able to move quite quickly to address urgent situa‐ The government tells us FPIC is not a veto. It is also telling us tions with massive financial resources. We saw the hundreds of bil‐ this bill is a reset of some kind. It is ostensibly something more lions of dollars that were made available in very short order as liq‐ than the existing duty to consult, but it is not a veto, so in what way uidity supports for banks. does FPIC differ from the existing duty to consult? Mr. Adam van Koeverden: Madam Speaker, the language around what FPIC was and how it greatly differs from a veto was What I want to know from the parliamentary secretary is whether debated thoroughly in committee. In fact, it does not bear any simi‐ the Government of Canada will commit the same level of urgency larity to a veto. We are talking about a deep level of consultation to this bill when it receives royal assent so that indigenous peoples and a deeper level of participation and involvement. The member across Canada, who have been waiting for hundreds of years for used the term “free, prior and informed consent”, which is absolute‐ this important step, can have confidence that this receives the same ly important, but the duty to consult does not require the duty to in‐ amount of attention as supports that were given for COVID-19. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7253

Government Orders Mr. Adam van Koeverden: Madam Speaker, I too feel a great rights, self-government agreements and other constructive agree‐ sense of pride and obligation in working on this bill. I wish I had ments, and is important for modern treaty partners; not interfere been around to vote for Bill C-262. Fortunately, we have the oppor‐ with work under way at regional and provincial levels; and include tunity to move forward on this. This bill will, indeed, require multi- references to climate change and sustainable development. party support. I look forward to supporting this bill with my col‐ league and further discussing the urgency when there is more time. Ms. Pam Damoff (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Because of this valuable feedback, the bill includes strong lan‐ Indigenous Services, Lib.): Madam Speaker, kwe, kwe. Ulaakut. guage in the preamble on the need to consider the diversity of in‐ Tansi. Hello. Bonjour. digenous peoples, recognize inherent rights and respect treaties. I should point out that all Canadians have access to this wealth of I would like to acknowledge that I am speaking from the tradi‐ ideas and input. We have produced the “What We Learned” report, tional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit first nation from which is publicly available on the Canada website. my home in Oakville and my riding of Oakville North—Burling‐ ton.

I am happy to speak today on this proposed legislation as it rep‐ Engagement with partners did not stop when the bill was intro‐ resents a critical step forward on the path to reconciliation. This duced. Ministers, their offices and the departments have been meet‐ legislation has been strengthened through extensive engagement ing extensively with indigenous partners and other stakeholders and consultation with indigenous peoples at every step in its devel‐ since introduction, and they will continue to do so throughout the opment. I believe the greatest strength of Bill C-15's development parliamentary process. We learned from indigenous partners that was the input of indigenous peoples from coast to coast to coast, there was much consensus around further suggested changes to the which positively shaped the bill. Collaborating with indigenous bill, including legislation that has been further improved by amend‐ partners through the engagement process has been pivotal in ensur‐ ments as it was making its way through Parliament. ing that we get it right. As members know, the legislation is based on Romeo Saganash's private members' bill, Bill C-262. Mr. Saganash was the first parlia‐ As an example, Bill C-15 required the development of the initial mentary champion to endorse The United Nations Declaration on action plan as soon as possible and set a maximum three-year time‐ the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, often referred to as UNDRIP, and line. Based on feedback from indigenous partners during engage‐ we all owe him a debt of gratitude. ment sessions, the bill has now been amended to shorten the maxi‐ mum timeline to a period of two years instead of three years for the A consultation draft of this bill was shared during engagement development of the action plan in consultation and co-operation sessions to seek feedback from indigenous organizations in order to with indigenous peoples. improve and amend the draft. During engagement, the government received contributions from many groups. In total, over 700 virtual sessions took place. They included sessions with national and re‐ gional indigenous organizations, indigenous rights holders, modern We recognize that collaboration with first nations, Inuit and treaty and self-governing nations, as well as with women, youth, Métis partners takes time, but it should proceed with purpose. Bill two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, C-15 now includes language from the declaration emphasizing that intersex and asexual plus persons. all doctrines, policies and practices based on racist or discriminato‐ ry notions are racist, scientifically false, legally invalid, morally This included regional engagement sessions where more than condemnable and socially unjust. An important amendment will 450 people participated providing feedback and advice on potential modernize our laws by making specific reference to the fact that enhancements to the consultation draft. Provincial and territorial Canadian courts have stated that aboriginal and treaty rights are not governments, experts and industry stakeholders also informed the frozen in time. Instead, they are capable of growth and evolution. development of the bill. We heard consistent calls to include strong language in the preamble on the need to consider the diversity of indigenous peo‐ ● (1250) ples; recognize inherent rights and respect treaties; include a refer‐ ence to the historic and ongoing injustices and discrimination suf‐ fered by indigenous peoples and marginalized groups; acknowledge Most recently, we heard from the national indigenous organiza‐ the role of the declaration as a framework for reconciliation, justice, tions and indigenous women's organization at the Standing Com‐ healing and peace; and address systemic racism and discrimination. mittee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. They stressed the ur‐ gency of passing this legislation, and I would like to share some of We also heard consistent calls to consider the importance of edu‐ their testimony today in the House. cating Canadians to ensure that indigenous rights are understood and valued; recognize the right of self-determination and self-gov‐ ernment as vital, and that the need for a strong distinctions-based approach throughout the legislation is essential; emphasize the im‐ The president of the Women of the Métis Nation, Melanie portance of respecting article 37, which outlines respect of treaty Omeniho, said: 7254 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Government Orders Elders and representatives from across the Métis motherland have noted that this point, as this bill has been introduced not two, but three times now, historic piece of legislation, if implemented according to its spirit and intent, could how can indigenous Canadians be assured and trust the government have the transformative power of an indigenous bill of rights. Bill C-15, the pro‐ posed UNDRIP act, represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reset both the will implement these rights in a timely way? scales of justice and the balance of power so that indigenous women, children and two-spirit and gender-diverse people are protected, safe and free. Ms. Pam Damoff: Madam Speaker, as the hon. member knows, The Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada vice-president Gerri it was not because of the government that the bill did not pass the Sharpe said: last time. In fact, we voted for it. I was in the last Parliament when Bill C-15 is a step forward for Inuit women and all Canadians on the journey we supported Mr. Saganash's private member's bill. Sadly, Conser‐ towards reconciliation. It is important because it states that Inuit women will have vative senators held up that bill so it could not get passed. the right to participate in decision-making in matters that affect them; the right to improvement of economic and social conditions including education, housing, health, employment and social security; the right to the highest attainable standard This is certainly not the end; it is indeed the beginning of a jour‐ of physical and mental health; and the same rights and freedoms guaranteed to Inuit men. ney. We are committed to ensuring that UNDRIP is implemented, and I do not think the government can be blamed for Conservative Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed said: senators holding up a piece of legislation. We certainly supported Bill C-15...is very focused on two particular concepts: one, the alignment of the bill, and we did everything we could to get it passed, but it was laws and policies within this country with the UN declaration; and two, the creation unfortunately held up in the Senate. of an action plan.... Indigenous peoples' rights are human rights. This is a class of human rights that needs this particular legislation, and we do hope that Canadians accept the rights of indigenous peoples as human rights in this country. [Translation] Native Women's Association of Canada president Lorraine Whit‐ man said: Ms. Andréanne Larouche (Shefford, BQ): Madam Speaker, I UNDRIP is about us, our families, our communities, the thousands of pages of thank my colleague for her speech on this important bill, Bill C‑15. the national inquiry testimony and its calls for justice. Specifically, call to action 1.3 This is 2021. It is about time that we recognized and complied with demands that government end the political marginalization of indigenous women. the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peo‐ David Chartrand of the Métis Nation Council said: ples. ...change is coming and UNDRIP is another pathway that's going to really let us play catch-up so that indigenous and non-indigenous people can compare eco‐ I hope to see meaningful action, such as the implementation of nomically, educationally and so forth. It's about catching up. We're slowly catch‐ ing up, which is something we should have done 50 years ago or 80 years ago. the recommendations from the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. If approved by Parliament, the bill will also require the Govern‐ ment of Canada, in consultation and co-operation with indigenous peoples, to take all measures necessary to ensure the laws of How does my colleague envision the federal government work‐ Canada are consistent with the declaration, prepare and implement ing with Quebec and the provinces to implement this act? an action plan to achieve the declaration's objectives and table an annual report. Co-development of the action plan will also be a fur‐ ● (1300) ther opportunity to work in close partnership on implementation. We are ushering in a new era in which we build stronger and last‐ [English] ing relationships, close socio-economic gaps and promote greater prosperity for indigenous peoples and all Canadians. Together we Ms. Pam Damoff: Madam Speaker, the hon. member and I share are building a brighter future and a better Canada for today, tomor‐ the same hopes of ensuring that not only is this legislation imple‐ row and into our shared future. That is why this legislation is so mented, but that we are also taking action on missing and murdered crucial. Built by extensive indigenous input and strengthened by indigenous women and girls. committee amendments, Bill C-15 must now become the law of the land. Mr. Gary Anandasangaree (Parliamentary Secretary to the To conclude, I would like to affirm the words of AFN Chief Per‐ Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Lib.): Madam Speaker, ry Bellegarde, who said, “We need to seize this moment and not I want to ask my colleague and good friend about the amendments, miss the opportunity to get Bill C-15 passed. It is a road map to rec‐ especially with respect to the addition of the word “racism”. How onciliation.” important was that to complete Bill C-15? ● (1255) Mr. Taylor Bachrach (Skeena—Bulkley Valley, NDP): Madam I know the parliamentary secretary has done a lot of work on sys‐ Speaker, I too believe that the rights articulated in this bill are long temic racism, so I would appreciate her comments on that, please. overdue in being recognized in our laws. The former justice minister has rightly characterized this as a Ms. Pam Damoff: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my small step forward and the most important work is going to be on friend and colleague for his work in ensuring that this bill is here the implementation side. Given how long it has taken to get to this before the House today. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7255

Government Orders We must end systemic racism in Canada, and this legislation is ● (1305) an important piece of that work. The added amendment is incredi‐ bly important to moving toward ending systemic racism across Canada. This paternalistic system is not limited to taxation. The regulato‐ ry obstacles the federal government imposes on resource and com‐ Hon. (Carleton, CPC): Madam Speaker, it is mercial development in first nations communities is more obstruc‐ an honour to rise on this important debate today. I begin with a tive than those imposed in neighbouring non-first nations commu‐ quote from the great indigenous leader, Manny Jules: nities. Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think and act for myself.... I am splitting my time with the member for St. Albert—Edmon‐ We forget often that these freedoms were enjoyed by first nations ton, Madam Speaker. people before the arrival of Europeans. Of course, when Europeans came, they adopted a colonial, paternalistic and coercive relation‐ ship with the first peoples who had long before been here and who That means it is more difficult for communities that want to de‐ had been the owners of what we now call Canadian property. They velop commerce and industry to provide for their people to do so. imposed a system that allowed governments and other authorities to Therefore, he proposes to allow more autonomy in first nations dictate the destinies of first nations that had prior been self-suffi‐ communities and less interference from the governments in Ottawa cient and had very well-developed systems of trade, governance and the provincial capitals. Naturally, if we want to allow first na‐ and commerce that allowed them to provide for themselves. tions to regain the freedoms they lost with the arrival of the Euro‐ peans, this proposal is entirely justified. Chief Jules, who is now in Kamloops and is one of the great in‐ tellectual leaders of first nations across the country, would like to have those same freedoms restored. He points out that archeologi‐ Furthermore, leaders like Chief Bear in Saskatchewan have said cal evidence of objects that predate the arrival of Europeans that the federal government should work with willing first nations demonstrate that very sophisticated systems of free trade and free that want to change land use policies to allow their residents to buy commerce existed between first nations across the Americas, well a home and collateralize it to get a mortgage. That would allow before Europeans came and formalized in law the European, and in more first nations to develop net equity, the collateral and the credit particular the Scottish, understanding of markets. We see, for exam‐ rating that would them to allow to build into the future. We cannot ple, objects in one part of the Americas that could only have origi‐ start a business if we do not have collateral to get a small business nated in other parts, meaning they must have been traded. loan, but because of the colonial and paternalistic nature of the Ot‐ tawa-knows-best system we now have, it is very difficult for many Chief Jules believes that the future for prosperity and opportunity first nations to achieve that basic right that every other Canadian for his people lies in restoring those freedoms that were taken away off-reserve can aspire to achieve. by so many ill-conceived, paternalistic and colonial policies of the past. Unfortunately, this bill does not achieve that goal. To the con‐ trary, it fails to extend and return those freedoms back to the first Furthermore, we see a double standard from the government and nations people who rightly had them before. Chief Jules points that from all the political parties, except the one in which I am a mem‐ out about the achievements that are now well documented, that pre‐ ber, and that is on the issue of resource development. None of the date Europeans. He says: other parties are interested in the views of first nations on resource Do you think this was all acheived through divine intervention from the gods? development, unless it is to use them to block those projects. Or was it because we somehow evolved into a "natural" socialist system that lasted thousands of years? Both of these ideas are nonsense. What he seeks today is a solution that would allow his people to For example, we look at the northern gateway pipeline, a project be masters of their own destiny by controlling the economic deci‐ that was supported by 75% of the first nations communities along sions that affect their lives. For example, right now the federal gov‐ the pipeline route. It would have generated $2 billion in wages and ernment takes $700 million of revenue from first nations communi‐ other benefits for first nations people, and it would have had a first ties that is the result of the work and resource development that nations president and CEO overseeing it. It would have allowed happens there. Then those same communities have to come to Ot‐ young first nations to get positions as apprentices, so they could be‐ tawa and ask for some of that money back. come welders or pipe fitters and obtain their Red Seal certification in many other high-paying, in-demand trades positions. What Chief Jules has proposed is to allow first nations communi‐ ties the autonomy to keep more of the revenues that they generate. That would allow more economic opportunities for jobs to fund lo‐ What did the Prime Minister do? Without honouring the duty to cal, clean water, health care and education initiatives in first nations consult first nations that is embedded in the Charter of Rights and communities. Instead, the government has attempted to maintain Freedoms, he killed the project and vetoed it, even after extensive the colonial system which takes that money away from those to environmental approvals had been granted by independent, non- whom it naturally belongs and then requires that they come to talk partisan authorities and even though 32 of 40 first nations commu‐ to politicians in Ottawa to give back what is rightfully theirs. nities supported it. 7256 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Government Orders Dale Swampy is the national president of the National Coalition tory of the Qayqayt First Nation and of the Coast Salish peoples. I of Chiefs, which has as its singular mandate to defeat on-reserve certainly want to thank Romeo Saganash, former NDP MP, whose poverty by allowing more development. He said that Bill C-15, leadership has inspired this legislation. “adds to the confusion about who has the authority to provide or deny consent on behalf of Indigenous peoples, be it chief and coun‐ cil, hereditary chiefs, or small groups of activists. It also implies I have enjoyed working with my colleague from Carleton on the that a single nation can deny consent — a veto in practice if not in finance committee. He talked about the hypocrisy of the Liberals, name — on projects that cross dozens of territories, be they the fact that they bring forward this legislation, but, at the same pipelines, railroads or electric transmission lines.” time, have a shocking record of not providing indigenous peoples with access to clean, safe drinking water or indigenous-led initia‐ Is that not exactly the kind of colonialism we should be against, tives on the housing crisis we see in indigenous communities, and where 19 communities support a program and one does not, that the continue to take indigenous kids to court. 19 are overpowered by one having the veto power? That is not the kind of opportunity and freedom that first nations should enjoy. Ev‐ eryday first nations people want the opportunity that we all have: to Could the member comment on the Liberal hypocrisy? work, to gain employment and to supply benefits to their own com‐ munities. We should allow those communities the freedom to ex‐ ● (1315) tend those opportunities. This bill would not do so, but let us work together with all first Hon. Pierre Poilievre: Madam Speaker, I have great respect for nations in the spirit of allowing them to fulfill their dreams and that member, who is extremely knowledgeable and with whom I their ambitions. have enjoyed working on the finance committee over the years. ● (1310) Mr. Gary Anandasangaree (Parliamentary Secretary to the He is quite right that the government talks a wonderful game Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Lib.): Madam Speaker, about how much it cares and all it will do. The reality is that first I noticed that the member hardly spoke about Bill C-15 and UN‐ nations have suffered a lack of clean drinking water, chronic under DRIP. housing and systematic poverty. That is fundamentally why we need to change the system to empower first nations to be masters of I do want to ask him a question. He was very much involved their own destinies. They should have the freedom to keep the mon‐ with the previous government. UNDRIP was accepted by the Gen‐ ey they earn in their communities. They should be able to decide eral Assembly 13 years ago. The previous Conservative govern‐ whether or not projects are approved on their lands that would gen‐ ment was in power for many of those years. erate opportunity for their young people. At what point would the Conservative Party accept UNDRIP and develop a plan to implement it or at least have a road map to suc‐ First nations should be in the driver's seat. If they were and if we, cess? The Conservative Party has consistently opposed it every step as politicians and governmental authorities, were to get out of their of the way, including with the blocking of Bill C-262 and Bill C-15. way, they would have more opportunity than they have now. At what point would the Conservative Party accept the principles of UNDRIP so it could be implemented into Canadian law? [Translation] Hon. Pierre Poilievre: Madam Speaker, I am very proud to say that I oppose this bill. The member asks when we will accept the Mrs. Julie Vignola (Beauport—Limoilou, BQ): Madam principles in it, but he cannot even explain what the principles are. Speaker, section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, protects the abo‐ He cannot explain what free, prior and informed consent mean. riginal and treaty rights of first nations peoples, and here we are with another piece of legislation. If we believe the words according to their dictionary definition, they would mean a veto. If 19 first nations communities supported a project and one opposed the project, the one would be able to How do we know they will really be protected? How do we overpower the 19. To me, that is not how we should function in a know this is not just for show, like the Constitution Act, 1982? country that is a democracy. We should allow the first nations peo‐ ple to fulfill their destinies by making their own decisions rather Hon. Pierre Poilievre: Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague. than having the federal government obstruct those opportunities. The answer is that it does not mean anything. This too is just for Frankly, that member should not be lecturing anyone. The Liber‐ show. It is a flashy statement that does nothing but give federal als still have not been able to fulfill their promise to provide clean politicians an excuse to congratulate themselves. Federal politicians drinking water on reserve to all communities. They have a shame‐ do not deserve congratulations. Federal politicians have failed. ful record as it relates to first nations and they should be lecturing no one on it. What we do need is to give indigenous communities the freedom Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP): and independence to make their own decisions and move forward Madam Speaker, I am speaking from the traditional, unceded terri‐ without federal government interference. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7257

Government Orders [English] It did not have to be this way. The one thing the government Mr. Michael Cooper (St. Albert—Edmonton, CPC): Madam could have done was incorporate language expressly into the bill Speaker, it is an honour to speak to Bill C-15, an act respecting the that made it clear that free, prior and informed consent does not United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or constitute a veto. The Liberals could have provided a clearer defini‐ UNDRIP. tion of its meaning and its effect, thereby removing the consider‐ able questions that currently exist about the implications of its The purpose of this legislation is to align Canadian laws with meaning and effect, and what that will do to the development of UNDRIP. The road to reconciliation has been a long and difficult major resource and other projects if this bill is passed. one, with many ups and downs. Underlying it all is an understand‐ able level of distrust on the part of indigenous peoples. Seen in that context, it could be said that at best, this is a well-intentioned piece of legislation, but even if that were so, it does not make it a good One thing that is certain is that this lack of a definition would piece of legislation. create considerable uncertainty and a torrent of new litigation around major development projects. It would undermine regulatory This legislation will likely move the process of reconciliation certainty, undermine investor confidence, and undermine the ability backward, rather than forward, and have grave impacts upon first of individual first nations communities to determine their own des‐ nations communities to develop and prosper and achieve true self- tinies by seeking opportunities to engage and participate in projects determination. This legislation would undermine reconciliation, and that could help their people develop and prosper. nowhere is that clearer than in the complete failure on the part of the government in this bill to define what constitutes “free, prior and informed consent”. This is hardly a hypothetical. One need only look at Bill 41, What is free, prior and informed consent? If we were to look at passed by the B.C. NDP government in December 2019. That bill is the remarks of the Minister of Justice, we would be led to believe quite similar to Bill C-15. It does not expressly enshrine UNDRIP that it really means not much of anything, that the status quo ante into law in the Province of British Columbia, but it uses aspira‐ would not be upended. In that regard, when the minister spoke in tional language about aligning B.C.'s laws with UNDRIP, similar to the House on this bill and the question of free, prior and informed Bill C-15. consent, he said, “Free, prior and informed consent does not consti‐ tute veto power over the government's decision-making process.” The minister went on to say it “will not change Canada's existing duty to consult with indigenous peoples”. Clearly, that cannot be Within two months of the passage of Bill 41, three major projects so. were challenged by the United Nations Committee on the Elimina‐ tion of Racial Discrimination: the Kitimat LNG project, the Site C Free, prior and informed consent is not the same as the duty to dam and Coastal GasLink. The UN committee said that UNDRIP consult and accommodate, which is embedded in section 35 of our did apply, and that there had not been free, prior and informed con‐ Constitution. There is a wide body of jurisprudence on that doctrine sent. Many indigenous communities and leaders also took that posi‐ that makes clear that the right to be consulted and the right to be tion. That was despite the fact that, in the case of Coastal GasLink, accommodated do not constitute a right of an absolute veto. When 20 indigenous communities had supported the project but one fac‐ one looks at the words “free, prior and informed consent” on their tion of unelected hereditary chiefs opposed it. It underscores the face, they would seem to mean precisely the opposite of what the uncertainty that would result from the passage of this bill, and it is minister purports, namely that there would be a veto by someone. why I cannot support this bill. Consistent with that, many persons who are authoritative on this matter have said as much. Let us take Senator Murray Sinclair, for example. Senator Sinclair championed Bill C-262 in the Senate in ● (1325) the last Parliament, which was the predecessor to this piece of leg‐ islation. Senator Sinclair is an esteemed retired justice of the Mani‐ toba Court of Queen's Bench. [Translation] ● (1320) On the question of what constitutes free, prior and informed con‐ sent, Senator Sinclair said this: “Free, prior and informed consent is Mr. Yves Perron (Berthier—Maskinongé, BQ): Madam a very simple concept.... And that is, before you affect my land, you Speaker, does my colleague not think we should strive for collabo‐ need to talk to me, and you need to have my permission.” If “you ration? From his speech, it sounds as though he thinks the United need to have my permission” is not a veto, I do not know what is. Nations is an adversary. Assembly of First Nations chief Perry Bellegarde said that free, prior and informed consent, “very simply, is the right to say yes, and the right to say no”. He said it is “the right to say no”, full stop. Personally, I believe in a model that enables us to work closely If that does not constitute a veto, then I say I do not know what together. If my colleague does not support this bill, what are his does. thoughts on how we can make progress? 7258 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Government Orders [English] The federal government has imposed very high standards of consultation on in‐ dustry.... Now, with Bill C-15, I don't see you applying those standards to your‐ Mr. Michael Cooper: Madam Speaker, I reject in part the selves. premise of the member's question, which is to suggest that this has widespread support among indigenous communities. It is opposed Would the member for St. Albert—Edmonton agree that in the by the National Coalition of Chiefs, the Indigenous Resource Net‐ introduction of this bill, the government does not meet the consulta‐ work, the Indian Resource Council, Chief Dale Swampy, president tion threshold that the aspirations of UNDRIP require? of the National Coalition of Chiefs, and the Mohawks of . I could go on. Mr. Michael Cooper: Madam Speaker, I will be very brief. The Mr. Gary Anandasangaree (Parliamentary Secretary to the very simple answer is the member is absolutely right. Yes. Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Lib.): Madam Speaker, my colleague opposite spoke extensively about resource extraction. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes): Before I Throughout the debate, a number of his colleagues have stood and go to the next speaker, I want to advise her that unfortunately she said the UNDRIP represents a veto and FPIC essentially means a will not be able to have the whole amount of time allocated to her veto. at this point. She has about 13 minutes for debate. Could the member highlight where in the text of Bill C-15 he finds the term “veto”, and if he could maybe give us more insight Resuming debate, the hon. member for Fredericton. into why that misconception is being reiterated by his party and his colleagues throughout this debate? Mrs. (Fredericton, GP): Madam Speaker, I Mr. Michael Cooper: Madam Speaker, in response I will quote would like to start by acknowledging the unceded Wolastoqiyik ter‐ a letter sent from the National Coalition of Chiefs to the Prime ritory from which I speak today. I have commented in this House Minister in December on that very question. They said: before about the importance of this recognition and, most impor‐ tantly, the actions that must accompany it. There are implications to this legislation, as currently drafted, that is likely to have negative impacts on the many Indigenous communities that rely on resource development... There has never been a more important time to highlight this It is unfortunate the government did not heed the concerns of the than with our discussion of Bill C-15, an act to implement the Unit‐ National Coalition of Chiefs. ed Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples here in Canada, in a colonial country, where land was extorted. In addition ● (1330) to threats and force, there were efforts to exterminate and bury the [Translation] original peoples of this land. These efforts failed. Instead, they planted seeds, and what we are seeing is a reclamation, the ushering Mr. Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, in of a new age. The time has come for reparations. NDP): Madam Speaker, we are debating this bill today because we have to resume the work done by my friend and former colleague Romeo Saganash seeking to enshrine the United Nations Declara‐ Many of my colleagues in this House know that my children are tion on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into federal law. This indigenous. I have also worked closely with hundreds of indigenous would be a great thing to do, and it would put us in a good position youth as a teacher. They have informed my work every step of the to move forward on reconciliation with first nations. way. When I think of voting on this bill, I ask myself what their world will look like in five years, in 10 years and for the genera‐ Unfortunately, despite the expressed will of the majority of tions after them, with or without passing Bill C-15. House members, the bill died in the Senate, thanks to the scheming of the Conservative Senators. What does my colleague think about Bill C-15 introduces the notion of a national action plan to im‐ the fact that unelected senators blocked the will of the elected rep‐ plement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indige‐ resentatives of the people? nous Peoples into Canadian law, with annual reporting mecha‐ [English] nisms. It is important to note that the specifics of these measures Mr. Michael Cooper: Madam Speaker, in response to the mem‐ are not articulated. This has brought with it uncertainty and a mani‐ ber for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, I have a great amount of re‐ festation of a well-placed mistrust in government. spect for Romeo Saganash. It was a great privilege to have the op‐ portunity to serve with him in the last Parliament. What Bill C-15 does well is lay out a robust preamble with ambi‐ tious, frankly incredible language. It includes value statements that That being said, Bill C-262 was a flawed piece of legislation for acknowledge systemic discrimination, and now racism, thanks to an many of the same reasons that Bill C-15 is a flawed piece of legis‐ important amendment. It recognizes self-determination of indige‐ lation. I was unable to support Bill C-262 and I am unable to sup‐ nous peoples, including an acknowledgement of their legal systems. port this bill. It actually says, “the Government of Canada rejects all forms of Mr. Gary Vidal (Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, colonialism and is committed to advancing relations...that are based CPC): Madam Speaker, my colleague referred to the president of on good faith and on the principles of justice, democracy, equality, the National Coalition of Chiefs, Mr. Swampy, and I want to quick‐ non-discrimination, good governance and respect for human ly highlight a quote from his committee testimony: rights”. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7259

Government Orders Can we take these words at face value, or in good faith, as the tions and staff from Chief Bellegarde's office. I listened and I bill proclaims? The criticisms of Bill C-15 are nuanced. The most learned. obvious issue is that the notion of good faith itself is on shaky ground. For a bill that enshrines the notion of free, prior and in‐ formed consent, consultation is severely lacking. I know that is a ● (1335) contested point, but I must say I believe it was lacking.

It is not enough to have closed-door meetings with national bod‐ My last stop was again with the Wolastoqiyik grandmothers, ies or organizations. The individual rights holders have a right to be scholars and leaders in my riding. I would encourage all members heard and to weigh in on legislation with such significant implica‐ of the House to also seek out that guidance. tions. All Canadians, Québécois and indigenous peoples of this land require an understanding of the declaration and what it truly means to affirm it as a universal international human rights instru‐ The assertion of these critical voices from Fredericton, from my ment. mentors and most trusted allies, is to reject Bill C-15 at third read‐ ing. This is not easy for me. The stands by A more complex problem some are having with this bill is that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peo‐ indigenous people are tired of the gaslighting. Indigenous rights are ples, and we campaigned on passing it into law. However, that is inherent. People are born with them and no one can take them not what Bill C-15 would accomplish. away. These rights have existed since time immemorial, and yet Canadian history presents things as though indigenous peoples were handed those rights with the coming into force of the 1982 I am told to celebrate Bill C-15 as it sets out the basic minimum Constitution Act. It is a nice idea, but it misses hundreds of years of standards for dignity and human rights for indigenous peoples. In‐ colonialism and abuse rooted in the doctrine of discovery. The no‐ digenous peoples already have these rights: charter rights. They al‐ tions that the Crown holds sovereignty over indigenous peoples, ready have title to their land and to hunt and fish for their liveli‐ that indigenous laws and legal traditions have no place and that the hoods. They already have the right to self-determination. Canadians Crown has ultimate title to the land held in trust underpin all of are the ones who have a problem upholding these rights, and Canadian law. They are embedded in the Canadian charter, and they Canada fails to enforce them. have placed the burden of labour on indigenous peoples and nations to establish their rights in Canadian courts. We have a moral, legal and fiduciary responsibility as a nation to Bill C-15 also fails to enshrine a distinctions-based approach to uphold our laws. However, we have broken these laws in pursuit of implementing UNDRIP in Canada and stands more as pan-indige‐ domination over indigenous nations, and there is significant work nous legislation, disregarding the incredible diversity within indige‐ ahead in dismantling these systems and structures of oppression nous nations. It is possible that Bill C-15 may be a tool in the tool that got us here. There are no easy fixes, such as passing Bill C-15 kit for future court cases, but I have to question what the future to check the box of reconciliation. holds for Canada and indigenous nationhood with this implication. Are we preparing for years of expensive legal battles? Are we ask‐ ing once again for indigenous people to bear the burden of proof in Clarity on the implementation of UNDRIP would have been a the protection of their collective inherent rights? golden opportunity to demonstrate what a new relationship could What will happen with the Mi'kmaq fishery dispute, with a new be, to demonstrate true respect and co-operation. Canada and season set to start in June? Fishers and leadership have had to call sovereign indigenous nations could continue on a path in their own on the United Nations for protection from violence and racist intim‐ canoes, the lesson that the Two Row Wampum teaches us. idation. Will the passing of Bill C-15 prevent this from happening? Will it remind the non-indigenous fishers of their treaty obligations, of their history of settlement in Unama'ki? If B.C.'s UNDRIP law is It is 2021, and it is time for us to face the truth. We cannot recon‐ any indication, sadly, I do not think it will. cile if we were never conciliatory; we can only work to repair the damage done. An essential part of these reparations is respecting I want to take a moment to talk about the journey I have been on the first treaty we all have as humans: the treaty with the land and when it comes to the study of this bill. My first step was with the with our planet. We forget far too often the interconnectedness of Wolastoqiyik Grand Council, under Grand Chief Spasaqsit Poss‐ all life and our role and responsibility in preserving this place for esom and Wolastoqiyik grandmothers. My next step was to meet future generations. What we have now is a race to consume re‐ with the Wabanaki Peace & Friendship Alliance. sources.

I reviewed numerous analyses and interpretations. I met with my hon. colleague from Winnipeg Centre to learn more about the work There is a component of the bill that reflects sustainable develop‐ of Romeo Saganash with Bill C-262. I met with local community ment, but what this conversation must include is a re-evaluation of leadership. I met with our local friendship centre. I met with the as‐ what that means. What is the value of protecting old-growth forests, sociation of Iroquois and allied nations, with my hon. colleague food security and cultural safety? How are we to measure the suc‐ from Vancouver Granville. I met with the Assembly of First Na‐ cess of Bill C-15? There are too many questions left unanswered. 7260 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Government Orders The study of Bill C-15 has been a roller-coaster ride for me, and Mrs. Jenica Atwin: Madam Speaker, I must reiterate my re‐ I wish to recognize the immense privilege I have as a non-indige‐ spect, as well, for Romeo Saganash and the work he put in. I have nous person in pursuing this study. It has been difficult to see the to say, in the extensive conversations I have had in my home infighting and division among people I look up to, among some of province of New Brunswick with the community members and in‐ my personal heroes. I want to say for the record that it is okay to herent rights holders, they do not know what this bill means. They support the bill, and it is okay to reject it. What is not okay is ignor‐ do not know what the implications are and they have not had ade‐ ing our role and responsibilities as treaty people and treating each quate time to study the bill for themselves. These are scholars, ac‐ other with disrespect, which is a legacy that remains, with or with‐ tivists and leaders. To say there has been extensive consultation, out this bill. and to talk to actual indigenous people on the ground, who have not been consulted, does not add up to me. My role here is to represent Finally, whether Bill C-15 receives royal assent or not will not Fredericton, and that is what I am doing. determine the future for my children. They are Wolastoqiyik. They are people of the beautiful and bountiful river. They are rooted to Mr. (Peace River—Westlock, CPC): Madam this land. They know who they are, and they know their rights. Speaker, I do not think my hon. colleague and I agree on much of‐ ● (1340) ten, but today we do. My big criticism of the Liberals on this partic‐ [Translation] ular bill is that they should do what they say and say what they do. It does not come out any more clearly than when they say they have Mr. Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, done extensive consultation. I sit on the committee. Everybody who NDP): Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her speech. appeared at committee had a recommendation for an amendment for the bill. All of the three major indigenous— I would like her to tell us what more should be added to a federal legislative measure to better respect the rights of first nations and The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): I indigenous people and to lead us toward meaningful reconciliation am sorry; I have to cut the hon. member off, because we only have in Quebec and Canada. 30 seconds left for an answer before time is up. [English] Mrs. Jenica Atwin: Madam Speaker, it is a reiteration of what The hon. member for Fredericton. we have heard a little about in this House, a more hands-off ap‐ proach. Indigenous leadership and government structures are ready Mrs. Jenica Atwin: Madam Speaker, I do not know how much to lead in their own right. That is what self-determination means. solace it brings me to be in agreeance with the Conservative Party of Canada on some of these issues. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is an excellent international covenant, and I stand by those principles. However, the bill is a plan to implement the plan and to I will go back to that consultation piece. The people I care about, enshrine it into law, so it just does not go far enough. who I speak to on a daily basis, have not had that thorough consul‐ tation. He is right that there were important amendments brought The consultation piece is highly debated, and it is a hot topic. forward, and not all were adopted, including that important one The people in my riding have not had adequate consultation. They about distinctions-based rights and the diversity that exists across should be the ones to steer the direction of what real reconciliation this country. To say that there is consensus— would look like. Mr. Gary Anandasangaree (Parliamentary Secretary to the ● (1345) Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I always appreciate my colleague's comments, but I have to express [Translation] a bit of disappointment in the position she is taking. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): It There has been extensive consultation. With respect to Bill being 1:45 p.m., pursuant to order made earlier today, it is my duty C-262, I was with Romeo Saganash in many communities and on to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question neces‐ many travels with the INAN committee, where many people came sary to dispose of the third reading stage of the bill now before the out and talked about his direct engagement. The foundation of Bill House. C-15 is from Bill C-262, and our ministers, as well as other col‐ leagues and I, were part of extensive consultations across Canada, The question is on the motion. even during the pandemic. In fact, during the INAN study itself we had many more people who came forward and spoke. [English] I do believe we have had a wide range of consultations, not per‐ fect but extensive. We cannot say that we support UNDRIP in prin‐ If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to ciple but are not ready to implement it. I would urge my colleague request a recorded division, or that the motion be adopted on divi‐ to reconsider her position, because this is a historic moment— sion, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): The hon. member for Fredericton. The hon. member for Battle River—Crowfoot. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7261

Private Members' Business Mr. : Madam Speaker, I would ask for a record‐ greatly appreciative of the contributions of the many experts, advo‐ ed division. cacy groups, industry organizations and other interested Canadians The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): who offered their insight and expertise on Bill C-204 and the issues Pursuant to order made on Monday, January 25, the division stands it will address. deferred until Tuesday, May 25, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions. It has been 462 days since I first introduced Bill C-204 in this Mr. Mark Gerretsen: Madam Speaker, I believe if you seek it, chamber. We have lost a lot of time already. The impacts of plastic you will find unanimous consent to see the clock at two o'clock, so waste remains a significant and pressing concern here in Canada we can start Private Members' Business. and around the world. Over time, discarded plastic breaks down, The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): and if not dealt with properly, it ends up contaminating our lakes, Does the hon. member have unanimous consent? oceans and rivers. It also threatens our ecosystem with drastic im‐ plications for wildlife and our natural environment. Some hon members: Agreed.

Canada has both a national and global responsibility to step up and show leadership to address the impact of plastic waste. Sadly, PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS under the government, we are doing the exact opposite. One of the [English] greatest contributors to global plastic pollution has been the export of plastic waste from countries such as Canada to other countries CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, 1999 around the world. Between 2015 and 2018, almost 400,000 tonnes The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-204, An Act of plastic waste were exported from Canada to foreign countries. to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (final We continue to ship almost 90,000 tonnes overseas every year. This disposal of plastic waste), as reported (with amendment) from the is a serious problem. committee. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): There being no motions at report stage, the House will now pro‐ Since China banned the import of all types of plastic waste in ceed, without debate, to the putting of the question on the motion to January of 2018, much of our plastic waste has been sent to South‐ concur in the bill at report stage. east Asia to countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indone‐ sia and the Philippines. Many of these countries lack the regulatory Mr. Scot Davidson (York—Simcoe, CPC) moved that the bill controls or waste management capabilities to properly dispose of be concurred in. plastic waste imported from Canada and elsewhere. Consequently, The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): If a it has all too often been disposed of improperly. It is ending up in member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to re‐ landfills, dumped in the ocean or burned. quest a recorded division or that the motion be adopted on division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair. This is having a harmful impact on the environment and on the Mr. Mark Gerretsen: Madam Speaker, I request that the motion population of these countries. In Indonesia, for example, the burn‐ be agreed to on division. ing of plastic waste has increased the air pollution and caused con‐ (Motion agreed to) tamination in the local food chain because of high toxin levels. These toxin levels are linked to serious, long-term health problems, Is that agreed? such as cancer, respiratory illness, diabetes and compromised im‐ Some hon members: Agreed. mune systems. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): I declare the motion carried on division. It is no wonder that many of the countries that have been inun‐ dated with plastic waste from abroad are now looking to put a stop When shall the bill be read a third time? By leave, now? to these imports. Last year, Malaysia returned more than 150 ship‐ Some hon. members: Agreed. ping containers of non-recyclable plastic waste to Canada and other developed countries. The Malaysian environment minister justified Mr. Scot Davidson moved that the bill be read the third time and this decision by declaring, “we do not want to be the garbage bin of passed. the world”. We all remember this incident. He said: Madam Speaker, York—Simcoe is a great riding, the soup and salad bowl of Canada. Globally, many of Canada's counterparts around the world have It is a privilege to rise in this House and speak once more to Bill already recognized how unsustainable and harmful the impacts of C-204, an act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection exporting plastic waste are. This includes countries that share our Act, final disposal of plastic waste. I am very grateful to my col‐ strong commitment to open global trade. Both Australia and New leagues who have supported this proposed legislation and who Zealand have brought in strict domestic controls on plastics, which worked to study and improve it over the last few months. I am also include prohibiting plastic waste from their respective countries. 7262 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Private Members' Business The United Kingdom is pursuing similar legislation, as have ev‐ trolled. This arrangement allows for Canadian plastic waste exports ery member state of the European Union and 70 other countries. to be shipped onward from the U.S. for final disposal in developing Additionally, 98 countries have ratified an amendment to the Basel countries. Convention, which governs the transboundary movement of waste. This amendment bans the export of plastic waste from OECD coun‐ I ask members to bear in mind that the United States is not a par‐ tries to non-OECD countries. ty to the Basel Convention, and plastic waste exported from their country is not subject to the same controls. As such, many environ‐ Unfortunately, there has been no effort by Canada's Liberal gov‐ mental groups are very concerned. They believe that Canada's plas‐ ernment to address the continuing export of non-recyclable plastic tic waste exports to the U.S. exploit a significant loophole in our waste and the devastating effects it is having on the environment. global obligations on plastic waste that directly contravenes inter‐ The Liberals have refused to establish a prohibition on plastic waste national law. within our domestic laws. They have refused to ratify the compre‐ hensive Basel Convention amendment that would address these is‐ sues. To address these concerns, Bill C-204 prohibits the export of non-recyclable plastic waste to all foreign countries. This ensures ● (1350) that the same environmental standards are applied to exported plas‐ In fact, they actively worked to negotiate a gaping loophole to tic waste, no matter where in the world it ends up, so that it is dis‐ get around existing international obligations governing the plastic posed of properly and our environment is protected. waste trade. This cannot be allowed to continue. Now is the time for Canada to prohibit the export of non-recyclable plastic waste to Another key element of Bill C-204 is ensuring that the various foreign countries. This is why we are all here today. types of plastic waste exported from Canada are addressed. That is why the list of plastic waste outlined in schedule 7 of Bill C-204 is Bill C-204 amends the Canadian Environmental Protection Act derived directly from the internationally recognized annex IV(B) of to prohibit the export of plastic waste for final disposal. The bill es‐ the Basel Convention on plastic waste. Any of the items on the list tablishes this prohibition in a reasonable and effective manner that can be added or removed by the minister through the Governor in protects the environment while supporting the many innovative re‐ Council as necessary. cycling and plastic reuse businesses that operate right here in Canada. I note that at committee, the member for Victoria successfully Bill C-204 targets plastic waste exports destined for final dispos‐ moved an amendment for schedule 7 to include PVC. This con‐ al. This is a specifically defined term that is clearly established structive addition to the list strengthens Bill C-204 further. I would within our domestic regulations and recognized within our interna‐ like to thank the hon. member for her contribution. tional agreements. By doing so, this bill ensures that plastic waste will be recycled, reused, recovered or reclaimed in an environmen‐ Of course, any federal legislation concerning plastic waste will tally sound manner. Plastic waste will continue to be exported, but have implications on the provinces and the municipalities. At the plastic waste being exported just to be dumped in a landfill, re‐ local level, Canadians participate in recycling and curbside waste leased into the ocean or burned will no longer be permitted. programs with the expectation that their plastic waste will be dealt with properly and in an environmentally sound manner. Bill C-204 strikes an important and delicate balance. It will put in place an export ban on non-recyclable plastic waste that will pro‐ ● (1355) tect the environment. It will make sure that when Canadians throw something in their blue bin, it will not end up floating in the ocean Bill C-204 will do this. With the inclusion of subsection 1.4, we halfway around the world. Critically, this would be accomplished in can be assured that it would respect all these constitutional jurisdic‐ a responsible way that would provide certainty and clarity to Cana‐ tions. I would like to extend my appreciation to the hon. member dian industry. We need to support the many Canadian businesses in‐ for Repentigny for this important addition. volved in plastic recycling, which are doing so much to innovate and responsibly manage our plastic waste. Bill C-204 would apply fines and penalties against anyone who contravenes it, as they are already established in the Canadian En‐ Bill C-204 further strengthens our ability to control what hap‐ vironmental Protection Act. Unfortunately, there are some bad ac‐ pens to our plastic waste when it is exported. Currently, once plas‐ tors who will try and get around these sorts of prohibitions. These tic waste leaves our borders, we lose much of our ability to ensure fines will ensure that the law will be enforced and followed. it is being handled properly. Most of our plastic waste is being sent to the United States across our shared border, the amount of which has been increasing significantly every year. More than 60,000 I have always believed that no one has a monopoly on good tonnes was shipped from Canada to the U.S. annually between ideas, that the best solutions and the right way forward can come 2017 and 2019. Last year that amount increased to over 83,000 from anywhere, and it is becoming more important than ever to tonnes. work together to make a difference. That is why it was so unfortu‐ nate that the Liberal government has opposed, delayed and blocked Just last fall, the Liberal government negotiated a special agree‐ Bill C-204 at every turn. It opposes this bill, simply because it was ment between Canada and the United States concerning plastic sponsored by a Conservative member of Parliament, and continues waste that has been criticized for being both opaque and uncon‐ to ignore the serious issues that it seeks to address. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7263

Private Members' Business Last month, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada has to take a leadership role when it comes to plastic pol‐ said, “We need to explore and capitalize on all our options for re‐ lution. We know that our world's oceans are drowning in plastic ducing plastic waste and pollution”, but by opposing Bill C-204, now. I would like to thank my colleagues from the NDP for work‐ the Liberals are rejecting a meaningful and effective measure to put ing with me on this bill to make this happen. an end to the plastic pollution of non-recycled plastic waste ex‐ ports. [Translation]

The Liberals' inaction on this issue is very unfortunate, but not Mrs. Julie Vignola (Beauport—Limoilou, BQ): Madam unexpected. They have called the practice of sending non-recy‐ Speaker, I had the pleasure of delivering a speech on this topic. One clable plastic waste to developing countries beneficial. They refuse of the comments we kept hearing was that Canada did not have the to see the deficiencies with our current legislation on plastic waste. necessary infrastructure. However, humans lived without plastic Worst of all, they refuse to acknowledge the serious impacts plastic from the dawn of time until the 1950s. Without going back in time, waste exports are having on the environment. what kind of strategies could we adopt to live with less plastic once It is not just inaction. Unfortunately, during the environment again? committee study of Bill C-204, Liberal members on the committee repeatedly and actively sought to undermine the legislative process ● (1405) and the will of the House with their conduct. This was very disap‐ pointing. Protecting the environment by addressing the export of [English] plastic waste should not be a partisan issue. That is why I am pleased to have the support of the members of the NDP, the Bloc, Mr. Scot Davidson: Madam Speaker, I look forward to Bill the Green Party, and all of my Conservative colleagues. Sadly, the C-204 coming into effect. same cannot be said of the Liberals. We have innovative companies in Canada that are making a dif‐ I think Canadians would be very disappointed to see the Liberal ference with plastic waste. We do not want plastic waste in our government failing to act on the environment yet again. We have world oceans. We do not want to see it thrown over the fence and seen this many times before. After all, this is the same Liberal gov‐ exported to the third world. ernment that cancelled the Lake Simcoe cleanup fund, which made such a difference in protecting Lake Simcoe and its ecosystem. It is Mr. (—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, unfortunate that, after the Conservatives pledged to bring back the CPC): Madam Speaker, the hon. member for York—Simcoe is well cleanup fund, the Deputy Prime Minister showed up in Barrie and known for his work protecting Lake Simcoe, the beautiful lake that said the Liberals would do the same, but as we continue to see, the connects both of our constituencies. government is all talk and no action on the environment. The cleanup fund still remains cancelled today. Could the hon. member tell me more about why he has spon‐ Canadians want to see real meaningful action to address the issue sored Bill C-204, and how prohibition on exporting non-recyclable of plastic waste exports and the impact it is having on the environ‐ plastic waste will help the environment both in Canada and around ment. When it comes to the environment, there is no “out of sight, the world? out of mind”. The impacts of plastic pollution affect us all. It is time for Canada to stop exporting non-recyclable plastic waste for Mr. Scot Davidson: Madam Speaker, I want to thank my hon. other countries to deal with. This can finally be accomplished with colleague, my neighbour from Barrie—Springwater—Oro- Bill C-204, so together, let us make this happen. Medonte, for his leadership role in protecting Lake Simcoe. ● (1400) As the House knows, I even wore hip waders in the House for [Translation] Lake Simcoe. The bill is so important to me. Microbeads of plastic Mr. Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, waste are quite big now. We want to protect the world's oceans. I NDP): Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech and always believe that small things add up to big things. This bill his initiative. The NDP and many people in my riding, Rosemont— would make things move in the right direction and would stop this La Petite‑Patrie, have been concerned about plastic pollution for from happening in the developing world. years. Mr. Damien Kurek (Battle River—Crowfoot, CPC): Madam His bill on exporting plastic waste is quite good. However, I Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for this bill and his would like his thoughts on reducing our use of plastic and increas‐ hard work on this issue. ing our capacity to recycle it, which we are doing very little of in Canada, and very poorly at that. It is important for us to work together on issues like this to ad‐ [English] dress some of the real challenges we are faced with on the environ‐ Mr. Scot Davidson: Madam Speaker, as my colleague knows, ment. Could the member comment further on the need for all par‐ controlling plastic pollution is very important to me. That is why ties to get together to ensure we address practical issues like this Bill C-204 takes a small step to having a toolbox we can use to all that address some of the real concerns facing our environment both work together and highlight the issues that are out there. in our country and around the world? 7264 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Private Members' Business Mr. Scot Davidson: Madam Speaker, Canadians have put us What does this mean? This means that under Canada's export here to work together, especially in these times and especially on and import of hazardous waste and hazardous recyclable material the environment. regulations, all plastic waste controlled under the Basel Conven‐ tion, both hazardous and non-hazardous, is considered hazardous At committee, I was pleased to work with the Bloc and the NDP waste or hazardous recyclable material under these domestic regu‐ to ensure that Bill C-204 would have a balanced approach, with the lations and is subject to export controls. Given this, Canada is in environment, industry and Canadian industry. Together, Canada full compliance with its obligations under the convention. will to once again take a leadership role with plastic pollution. Mr. (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Western Bill C-204 differs from the internationally agreed approach, Economic Diversification Canada) and to the Minister of Envi‐ which has been adopted by all parties to the Basel Convention, by ronment and Climate Change (Canada Water Agency), Lib.): proposing a blanket stop to trade in plastic waste as defined by the Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by recognizing the work of bill and destined for final disposal. The bill actually has a more lim‐ the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and ited control on exports of plastic waste. Sustainable Development in its study of this bill. The work of the committee along with input from witnesses and others who partici‐ pated in the study have given us a better understanding of the bill, More specifically, the bill would prohibit the export of plastic its merits and, most important, its shortcomings. waste that is listed in the schedule to the bill and destined for final This government continues to support work to address issues disposal only, while our existing domestic regulatory regime not around plastic waste, including the impact of exports of plastic only controls what is likely a broader scope of plastic waste, but al‐ waste from Canada. However, the government maintains that Bill so for broader purposes: plastic waste destined for final disposal C-204 is not the appropriate vehicle to do so. As my colleague and recycling. mentioned during a previous debate, significant progress has been made to address problematic exports of plastic waste from Canada since Bill C-204 was first introduced over a year ago. Should the bill be enacted, it would establish two coexisting regimes in Canada for the export of plastic waste. For plastic waste To this day, 187 countries, including Canada, have ratified and listed in the schedule to the bill and exported for final disposal, ex‐ are implementing controls agreed on at the international level on port would be prohibited. For all other plastic waste covered by the transboundary movement of hazardous and non-hazardous plastic Basel Convention and not covered by the bill, exports for final dis‐ waste destined for both recycling and final disposal. posal and recycling requires the prior informed consent procedure under the regulations. This would create confusion and uncertainty, Under the rules adopted by the parties to the Basel Convention in making it very challenging for stakeholders to determine and un‐ 2019, known as the plastic waste amendments, the transboundary derstand their regulatory obligations. movement of plastic waste among the parties to the convention can only take place if certain conditions are met and in accordance with certain procedures. All plastic waste, hazardous and non-hazardous, controlled under the Basel Convention requires prior informed con‐ ● (1410) sent of the importing country and any transit countries before the export can occur. This is true for waste destined for recycling or for final disposal. I want to discuss some of the measures currently in place with respect to trade and plastic waste between Canada and the U.S., as Through the prior informed consent procedure, and this is impor‐ concerns were raised at committee. tant, countries enter into a joint process where the country of import must provide written consent to the import before the country of export can allow the export to occur. In providing its consent, the The U.S. is not a party to the Basel Convention. I want to clarify country of import confirms that the waste will be managed in an en‐ that the Basel Convention explicitly prohibits countries that have vironmentally sound manner. In other words, the plastic waste ratified it from trading in Basel-controlled waste with non-parties amendments under the Basel Convention are designed to support unless an agreement or arrangement is in place between a party and recycling activities, while reducing exports of harder-to-recycle non-party, which requires that provisions are not less environmen‐ plastics to countries that may not be in a position to manage them tally sound than those provided for by this convention. in an environmentally sound manner. They also ensure that the im‐ porting party participates in the decision-making process by sub‐ jecting imports to its consent. As a result, Canada and the U.S. entered into an arrangement that Given the inaccurate information provided to the committee dur‐ affirms that plastic waste circulating between Canada and the U.S. ing its study of the bill, I want to be clear. The Government of is managed in an environmentally sound manner in both countries. Canada has ratified the Basel Convention Plastic waste amend‐ As per the arrangement, both countries have in place and intend to ments and as of January 1, 2021, they have been fully implemented maintain the measures that ensure the environmentally sound man‐ through Canada's domestic regulatory regime. agement of waste. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7265

Private Members' Business Therefore, while Basel-controlled plastic waste can be exported The bill introduced by my colleague from York—Simcoe has from Canada to the U.S., that waste can only be exported from the made its way to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sus‐ U.S. to another Basel party if the two have entered into arrange‐ tainable Development. I thank the member for the speech he just ment or agreement that is compatible with the environmentally gave, because he gave a good description of how plastic can harm sound management of waste as required by this convention. There the environment and human health if it is not strictly controlled. is more. Basel-controlled waste exported from Canada, which transits The content of the bill seems to be a hot-button issue, especially through the U.S. but is destined to a party to the Basel Convention among companies in the recycling industry and the plastics trade. requires an export permit prior to export. Such a permit is only This is where the Basel Convention, which is not mentioned in Bill granted if the destination party explicitly grants consent to receive C‑204, comes in, and more specifically the amendments to annexes the waste. II, VII and IX of this convention. These amendments came into force on January 1, 2021, and were accepted by the Government of It is also important that all parliamentarians understand that en‐ Canada on December 20, 2020. The House indicated its intention to acting the bill could potentially impact waste management in comply with these amendments on October 28, 2020, in an ex‐ Canada. The implications raised at second reading and during the planatory memorandum. ENVI study of this bill merit consideration as we prepare to vote on whether this bill should pass and then be sent to the Senate. The preamble of the Basel Convention states that the production A concrete impact of this bill is that exports of Canadian munici‐ of wastes should be minimized and, where possible, “be disposed pal solid waste for final disposal would be banned, given that it of in the State where they were generated”. The main body of the generally contains plastics covered by the bill. The export prohibi‐ convention states that the exporting country must receive prior in‐ tion proposed by the bill is expected to impact waste management formed consent from the recipient country before hazardous wastes in Canada by increasing pressure on domestic waste management are sent. systems. The Ontario Waste Management Association, in its written correspondence to ENVI, raised concerns that the bill's prohibition would put severe pressure on already limited landfill capacity in The amendments set out a list of plastics that it is prohibited to Ontario. The correspondence also indicated that Ontario's landfill export, unless the importing country has made an informed decision capacity was projected to be exhausted by 2034. and can dispose of those plastics in an environmentally friendly way. Companies involved in the trade of plastic waste with the Before we enact a prohibition of this nature at the federal level, United States who communicated with members of the committee we will need to consult with our territorial, provincial and munici‐ say that Bill C-204 will have a major negative economic impact on pal partners to ensure we fully understand and assess the impact their activities. They are concerned about the constraints imposed that a prohibition of this kind would have on domestic waste man‐ by Bill C-204. agement. For this reason and all the others I have explained, we re‐ main opposed to the enactment of this bill. Clearly, there are irritants for companies in the sector, which are I encourage fellow parliamentarians to carefully consider the cur‐ now facing additional constraints. They must consult the annex of rent regime on transboundary movement of plastic waste along the Basel Convention to determine which substances are now iden‐ with the domestic implications of the bill if it were to become law. tified as hazardous under the convention and they must also comply with national law in that regard. What is more, if the trade in plas‐ ● (1415) tics continues, clear labelling will be required so that the countries [Translation] that are importing these materials are not receiving non-compliant packages, for example. Ms. Monique Pauzé (Repentigny, BQ): Madam Speaker, when I listen to the speeches, I realize that not everyone sees the bill in the same way. The note that I mentioned earlier that was submitted to the House on October 28 explained the following: Canada and the United The bill introduced by my colleague from York—Simcoe was re‐ States came to an arrangement to confirm that plastic waste that is ferred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable subject to annex II of the convention is managed in an ecologically Development— sound manner. Canada therefore complies with its obligations un‐ The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): I der the convention and is now in a position to accept the amend‐ must interrupt the hon. member to ensure that she has her headset ments. on properly. In the wake of the trade concerns that were raised, I really would Now that the problem has been fixed, the hon. member from Re‐ have liked to have some clarification on the Canada-U.S. trade rela‐ pentigny has the floor. tionship, given that the United States is not a signatory of the Basel Ms. Monique Pauzé: Madam Speaker, based on what I am hear‐ Convention. Unfortunately, the officials chosen by the government ing from members, it seems as though no one is interpreting to answer MPs' questions on Bill C‑204 were very clear when they Bill C‑204 the same way. said they could not talk about the specifics of the bill. 7266 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Private Members' Business It is important to understand that collection and recycling centres we also have a duty to guide the economic and social environments operate best when they are located near major consumer centres. that must adapt. Our neighbours to the south have more sites because their popula‐ tion justifies it. I am not suggesting that the United States is a champion of the circular economy, I would never say that, but the Yes, we must implement measures. They need not be draconian, fact remains that Americans are buying our plastic waste because but they must be planned. Our decisions must result in predictabili‐ they know how to reclaim it. The officials explained the waste ty. When industries and economic sectors are kept abreast of the package tracing system saying that possible dumping to a third par‐ acts and regulations put in place by the legislator in their regard, the ty would be unlikely. market adapts and workers can be trained. In order for this adapta‐ tion to occur properly, there must be reasonable deadlines. I am not The truth is that we do not have the necessary infrastructure to talking about unlimited deadlines dictated by the stakeholders, but meet the needs in this area. We must absolutely take action on this deadlines that are established by listening to their concerns. issue to limit as much as possible the export of any and all plastics until we are able to reduce our waste, which would be ideal. There is still a lot of work to be done. Why not adopt an ap‐ I am pleased that my colleagues from the committee were recep‐ proach where this resource would be developed here? Let us keep tive to my amendments to change the timeline for implementing this economy and its jobs. It is good for the environment in Quebec Bill C-204 in order to provide this predictability and respect the ju‐ and in Canada. risdictions of Quebec and the provinces. Speaking objectively, it would have been preferable if this had been done from the outset. All the discussions in committee, along with the readings and de‐ bates on this critical issue directly related to our capacity to deal with our waste here, lead me to reiterate the following facts. In what should be called the great plastics file, the governments of Quebec and the provinces should be at the heart of the discus‐ ● (1420) sion. In fact, the key element of Bill C-204 is the management of The Bloc Québécois believes that, before we even consider ex‐ waste materials, which is a responsibility exclusive to Quebec and porting plastic waste, Canada has a duty to rethink how materials the provinces. circulate in the economy. We fully subscribe to the Basel Conven‐ tion's preamble. I will close by simply reminding members that the federal gov‐ As it happens, the committee study on single-use plastics ties in ernment holds 50% of tax revenues, but only a meagre 6.8% of the with Bill C‑204. Though separate, the study addresses another as‐ responsibility for municipal infrastructure. Municipalities must get pect of the plastics issue: what we produce and consume, what we what they need to participate in the economy of tomorrow. Quebec can eliminate, what virgin resin producers want to maintain, what and the provinces are relying on the federal government to give we need to do to establish a true circular economy sooner, and them their fair share, especially since the government is focusing more. heavily on eliminating plastic waste. I will not go into detail about the data, the stats, per capita plastic production and consumption, the difference between “toxic” and ● (1425) “dangerous”, or the environmental consequences of the massive plastic burden we are saddled with. Mr. Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, The government may not have been ready for the reaction of in‐ NDP): Madam Speaker, it is a great pleasure for me to rise in the dustries affected by Bill C‑204, which, to be clear, requires Canadi‐ House today to take part in this very important debate, one that af‐ an legislation to align with the Basel Convention, but it had plenty fects us all. The NDP has been raising concerns about plastic waste of time to get ready. The government has known since at least 2019 for several years now. that the Basel Convention amendments had to be adopted. It rati‐ fied them at the eleventh hour without bothering to help industry prepare. Anyway, that is how it looks to me, and it has to be said. We are talking about the export of plastic waste, and there is a lot For its part, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environ‐ to say on the subject. I am also going to talk about reducing the use ment has been discussing plastics for several years. How is it that of plastics in general and especially single-use plastics, such as wa‐ an international agreement like the Basel Convention and its impor‐ ter bottles, which unfortunately are still used too often. I will also tant amendments has never been examined? We need concrete ac‐ address the topic of reducing waste in general, plastic or otherwise, tion and state-of-the-art recycling and reclamation facilities. Que‐ since this is the source of many problems. bec has a pool of expertise, especially with respect to the circular economy, that is more than willing to participate in this work. I would be remiss if I did not highlight local initiatives in Rose‐ As elected members of a legislative assembly, I believe it is our mont—La Petite-Patrie. People really want to see action taken by duty to legislate. Laws determine conduct and guide society to‐ businesses that have a vision for reducing plastic waste and waste wards transformation, especially in the case of markets. However, in general. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7267

Private Members' Business I would like to applaud the initiatives of some of our local shops: ● (1430) Épisode, Vrac & Bocaux, La Cale zero-waste pub, Méga Vrac Rosemont, Rose Ross, La Brume dans mes Lunettes, Le Frigo de We do this because our capacity for recycling the plastic waste Bacchus, La réserve naturelle, La fabrik éco, Dispatch café, Mani‐ we produce is far too limited. Generally, this waste used to be toba, Véganation and Le Cornélien, not to mention Vrac sur Roues. shipped to China, but it has decided, quite rightly, to refuse because That last one is not located in Rosemont—La Petite‑Patrie, but it we are unable to handle it ourselves. However, not only is it the delivers bulk products by bike and therefore does not produce any right thing to do, it is the responsible thing to do. It can also be a greenhouse gases. Delivery is available in my riding and in other niche market that could create jobs. Having the capacity to recycle neighbourhoods. waste is good for the environment and could be good for the econo‐ my. My first point is about exports of plastic waste, which is what Bill C‑204 is about. If I have time, I will also talk about the use of A few years ago, I toured a business in the heart of Quebec that plastic in general and waste reduction. was shredding laundry soap containers made of type 2 plastic, a fairly hard plastic. They made small pellets that were then used to The situation right now is alarming. As my colleague said, there manufacture irrigation pipes for our farmers. Instead of burning this are plastic islands in our seas and oceans. In fact, a plastic continent plastic or throwing it into fields or rivers, the company reused this is floating around the Atlantic Ocean, not to mention the plastic plastic and turned it into a product that agricultural producers need. pollution littering the shores of our rivers and lakes and the St. What was even more extraordinary with this company was that it Lawrence River. For years, people have been participating in clean- fostered labour market integration as most of the people hired had a up campaigns and picking up as much litter as possible to stop fish hearing impairment. This created jobs for people who generally and turtles from dying due to the plastic bags that are washing up face barriers to employment. on shore and to have a cleaner environment that is not so damaged by the presence of humans and industry. I think we need to be aware of the need to reduce our use of plas‐ Canada is truly a lame duck when it comes to plastics exports. tics, especially single-use plastics. Plastic needs to be recycled, and Our country is not assuming its responsibilities and is literally that takes infrastructure. The fact that we do not have that infras‐ shovelling its waste into the neighbour's yard when we are no tructure in this day and age is outrageous. The various levels of longer willing or able to manage it here. government, including the federal government, should invest to help us recycle plastic. However, we must reduce our use of plas‐ I would like to point out that this problem has probably been ex‐ tics. acerbated by the pandemic. More plastic is being used today, often for medical reasons that are quite understandable. As for green‐ For example, it is not that hard to pick up prepared foods from house gas emissions, the economic downturn has probably helped the store using a recyclable container brought from home instead of bring them down a bit or at least kept them stagnant rather than in‐ the store's styrofoam container. It is not that hard to carry around a creasing them. With respect to plastic pollution, the pandemic has small reusable water bottle for when we get thirsty. More and more probably made it worse, because of all the masks we still have to people are doing it, but, unfortunately, even more people are buying wear. It is obviously understandable why we need to wear them, but their drinking water in plastic bottles, when there is tap water at that does not make it any less of a problem. Instead, the problem home, free, filtered municipal water that is perfectly good to drink. has only worsened, and it is even more important to find solutions quickly. If we are to reduce the use of plastic, we also need to talk about over-packaging. This is important. I am very pleased to represent In 2018, Canada shipped 44,000 tonnes of plastic waste to other the riding of Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, which hosted the first ev‐ countries. Many will recall the quarrel between Canada and the er plastic attack in all of North America. It has happened a few Philippines. We had to spend over $1 million to bring back 69 ille‐ more times since. gally shipped containers. For six years we tried to convince the Philippines to dispose of the waste we had shovelled into to their yard. We wanted them to deal with our waste and our problems. Two or three years ago, three young women asked people leav‐ ing a grocery store to remove all of the plastic packaging from their This is not the only time that this has happened. This year the fruits and vegetables. Their goal was to teach these people that they Malaysian government sent 11 shipping containers of plastic waste did not need to purchase over-packaged products and that they back to Canada. We are incapable of taking responsibility and com‐ could use reusable or mesh bags to do their groceries. They were plying with the international agreements that the member for Re‐ also sending a message to the grocery store owners that people pentigny spoke about a little earlier. would rather purchase products that are not over-packaged.

Canada is incapable of dealing with its own plastic waste or re‐ One of the examples I talk about a lot and that drives me crazy is ducing its plastic consumption. We send it to third world countries when bananas are sold on a styrofoam tray wrapped in plastic and and ask them to dispose of our waste, which sometimes includes wrapped in another layer of plastic. Bananas come with a peel. medical waste. They are already protected and need no extra packaging. 7268 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Private Members' Business There are so many changes to be made to our production and bumped from the market when China began outbidding it and other consumption patterns. This plastic attack was done in collaboration Canadian recyclers for Canada's plastic waste. with the grocery store, and people quite liked being asked to think about these issues.

We also need to reduce how much waste we produce in general. In 2017, after dominating international trade in waste plastic, We are told that Quebeckers and Canadians are among the largest China abandoned the practice and the market because its customers waste producers in the world, with an average of two kilograms per around the world raised their quality standards on imported recy‐ person per day. To change these habits, we will need to make a clables. These included Canada, to its credit. tremendous effort collectively, but also locally and individually. These new habits will cause different businesses to change how they offer their products. I have to come back to the great initiatives of all the businesses, grocery stores, pubs and restaurants aiming That recycling market was for clean, select and sorted plastic for zero waste. We should be encouraging them, because these are waste. More of Canada's plastic waste, much of it contaminated, all excellent initiatives. They can be found across Quebec. We must has been exported to the United States and a number of Asian coun‐ identify which businesses are doing it and encourage them. tries for disposal by incineration, landfilling or abandonment. As the member for York—Simcoe points out, between 2015 and 2018 ● (1435) almost 400,000 tonnes of Canadian plastic waste was shipped to [English] Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Hong Kong, China and the United States. Hon. (Thornhill, CPC): Madam Speaker, it is a real pleasure to speak to this timely bill brought by my colleague, the member for York—Simcoe. Before I get to the details of Bill C-204 and the impact that this proposed legislation has already had on a In many of these countries where environmental standards actu‐ government that was dragging its feet in joining the global move‐ ally exist, they are often very poorly enforced. These tonnes of ment to ban the export of hazardous plastic waste, I would like to waste are not only irresponsibly burned or improperly added to thank the member for his wider, passionate and loud commitment landfills. In many cases they are simply dumped and defile the en‐ to the magnificent body of water that lends its name to his con‐ vironment, groundwater, surface water and air. Unlike China, stituency. It is about an hour's drive north of my riding of Thornhill. which banned waste plastic because of market rejection, some of I am speaking of Lake Simcoe, of course. those countries are now prohibiting plastic waste trade for environ‐ Since his arrival in the House of Commons after his election two mental reasons, in some cases because of the sudden surge in plas‐ years ago, the member has regularly raised his voice urging the tic waste dumped on their countries resulting from the huge ton‐ government to re-establish the Lake Simcoe cleanup fund, killed by nage rejected by China. the Liberals in 2017. The virtual challenges imposed on the work‐ ings of the House over the past year have forced us to limit atten‐ dance on the Hill and to work from constituency offices and homes. While all of this has frustrated many members, the MP for York— Canada's environmental image abroad was bruised terribly last Simcoe has taken advantage of his remote technology a number of year when the governments of the Philippines and Malaysia de‐ times to bring the lake, and the government's dereliction of duty to manded that Canada, at great cost to Canadian taxpayers, repatriate a cleaner Lake Simcoe, to the attention of the House and Canadi‐ thousands of tonnes of contaminated plastic waste that had been ans. He positioned himself in front of the lake one time, and as he dumped on their rural communities and countryside. All of this has referred to today, he made a statement while actually standing happened at the same time as countries around the world came to‐ in Lake Simcoe in hip waders to call for re-establishment of the gether to more responsibly regulate the way countries controlled highly effective cleanup fund our Conservative government funded the import and export of plastic waste in its many forms. for 10 years. His proposed legislation, Bill C-204, is on one hand simple in the changes that it proposes to the Canadian Environmental Protection ● (1440) Act, but also profound in what it could achieve. As the member for York—Simcoe reminded us when he spoke, for far too long Canada has been sending too much of the plastic waste that we all generate to other countries for disposal. Party countries to the Basel Convention on the Control of Trans‐ boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, a There was a time when there was a significant market for clean convention that was created in 1989 in the wake of scandals involv‐ and sorted plastic waste, both in Canada and abroad, particularly in ing the dumping of toxic waste in Africa and other developing China. A corporate constituent in my riding of Thornhill was pro‐ countries, agreed, in 2019, to update the Basel Convention to ban ducing a broad range of products 10 years ago that included furni‐ the transboundary movement of plastic waste from industrialized ture, planks for decks and docking, buckets, barrels, sports gear and countries to developing countries, specifically the types of plastic so forth made from a variety of plastic waste material. It was waste that are considered hazardous and contaminated. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7269

Private Members' Business Members will remember that I mentioned earlier that Canada has vices that we should take care of in a safe and environmentally been dragging its feet in joining the global movement to ban the ex‐ sound manner. port of plastic waste. The government failed to demonstrate leader‐ ship by not immediately joining other countries in the ratification of I agree with my colleague from York—Simcoe, and I hope all the Basel Convention amendments, and that is where Bill C-204 members will join me in supporting his bill, Bill C-204. made a big difference even before this debate. The Liberals, who had been derelict in their duty again to ratify the Basel amend‐ ● (1445) ments, suddenly, two days before the member for York—Simcoe Mr. Mark Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands, Lib.): Madam was to speak to this bill, announced that they would ratify it, and Speaker, I want to thank the member for introducing Bill C-204. they did, although they were more than a year late, 18 months late, There has been some discussion today, and he seems disappointed and after 186 other countries had signed. that some people on this side of the House have indicated that they are not going to vote in favour of it. However, it seems as though Now, does that mean that the export of all plastic waste from the NDP and the Bloc are onside with it, so I would suggest to the Canada will suddenly stop? Unfortunately not. The Basel Conven‐ member that indeed a majority is a victory, even though it might tion amendments apply to a specific list of types of plastic consid‐ not be unanimous. ered hazardous, but not to another list of plastic waste that is pre‐ sumed not to be hazardous, provided these safe, uncontaminated The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): waste plastics are destined for recycling in an environmentally The time provided for the consideration of Private Members' Busi‐ sound manner. The Liberals think that makes it okay for some ness has now expired and the order is dropped to the bottom of the Canadian waste plastic to be exported. They claim that it helps order of precedence on the Order Paper. businesses abroad, as if Canada's plastic trash is some kind of de‐ velopment assistance. * * * This makes Canada an outlier in the OECD, because there is an‐ KINDNESS WEEK ACT other amendment to the Basel Convention, known as the ban amendment, which bans absolutely the export of plastic waste from Mr. Michael Barrett (Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands OECD countries to non-OECD countries. There are 98 countries and Rideau Lakes, CPC) , seconded by the member for Saint- that have signed that amendment, democracies such as Australia Laurent, moved that Bill S-223, An Act respecting Kindness Week, and the United Kingdom, but to date, Canada refuses to sign. be read the second time and referred to a committee of the whole.

Canadians watching from home or reading a transcript of my [Translation] speech today in Hansard should know that much of the media re‐ The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): porting on these issues confuses the two amendments, which the Pursuant to the order adopted on Thursday, May 13, a member Liberals use to their advantage when they claim that Bill C-204 is from each recognized party and a member from the Green Party unnecessary because Canada signed, belatedly, the first amend‐ may speak for not more than 10 minutes. ment. [English] The sponsor of Bill C-204, the member for York—Simcoe, be‐ lieves that Canada should not be exporting any plastic waste. The Mr. Michael Barrett: Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise to‐ member believes that because there are any number of Canadian day as the member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and companies prepared and capable of recycling plastic waste, it is Rideau Lakes to speak to Bill S-223, an act respecting Kindness time for Canada to stop treating the rest of the world as a dumping Week. ground for Canadian plastic waste. Bill S-223 was originally introduced in the other place by Sena‐ He referenced in his speech an Alberta company that can convert tor Munson. As the saying goes, “if at first you don't succeed, try, all types of plastic to diesel fuel. It is ready to build refineries try again.” Try the senator did and he was successful. across the country that could convert 3,000 tonnes of plastic waste a day, diverting more than a million tonnes from landfill and for‐ This bill was introduced each of those times in honour of Rabbi eign destinations. He mentioned another company in Nova Scotia Reuven Bulka, who is the founder of Kind Canada and the inspira‐ that, like my corporate constituent in Thornhill, could manufacture tion for this bill. In the same spirit that motivated the rabbi to start a broad range of products from plastic waste. However, these com‐ the first Kindness Week in Ottawa 14 years ago, this bill would see panies need access to adequate volumes of clean plastic waste to Canadians from coast to coast to coast celebrate kindness week in make their business plans work, and if Canada kept its vast tonnage their communities during the third week of February every year. here, they would work. As for the rabbi's inspiration for the first Kindness Week, he said: The member for York—Simcoe told the House that Canadians from coast to coast want action on this environmental issue. He said My motivation in establishing Kindness Week in Ottawa was to counter the bul‐ that the Liberal government could no longer justify a practice that lying epidemic that had invaded our schools. The logic was simple. Telling children not to do something does not help that much and at times can be counterproductive. many other industrialized countries have ended, and that develop‐ But helping children do nice things and say nice things to others creates the type of ing countries should no longer be expected to fulfill disposal ser‐ positive energy that suffocates bullying. 7270 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Private Members' Business I can think of no better time for this bill than in the midst of a generosity and service. We must remember that, while it is impor‐ pandemic, where the lives of people have been turned upside down tant to be kind to others, we must also be kind to ourselves. Only and the need to be kind to one another is greatly amplified. Many when we are kind to ourselves and think about ourselves in a posi‐ people have fallen on hard times and have lost their job, seen their tive and healthy way are we able to have the abundance needed to business close and have seen loved ones fall ill. give to others. It would be so easy for Canadians in this high-stress environment to become callous or indifferent to their neighbours, friends and ● (1455) family, but thankfully we have seen the opposite. Communities have come together to help the vulnerable in need among them. We [Translation] have seen people getting groceries for their neighbours and the el‐ derly. We have seen an increase in giving to food banks, an out‐ When we return the love and joy that another is feeling, it has a pouring of support for charities, even children writing letters and huge impact on their sense of well-being. sending videos to folks in long-term care homes. Acts of kindness like these are happening all across our country and have truly helped us get through the stress and uncertainty of this pandemic [English] situation. This bill, with the creation of a national kindness week, will help Prior to fully entering politics, I was a high school teacher. I to encourage values such as empathy, respect, gratitude and com‐ taught history, geography, French, and ethics and religious culture. passion, and lead to the improved health and well-being of Canadi‐ I have to say that, of these, my favourite course to teach was the ans. Designating and celebrating a kindness week throughout ethics class. That was because, as a teacher, I believed I played an Canada will encourage acts of kindness, voluntarism and charitable important role in helping my students become happy, resilient, ful‐ giving that will benefit all Canadians as well as connecting individ‐ filled human beings. I know there is a limited amount a teacher can uals and organizations to share resources, information and tools to do in this regard. However, I always knew that I wanted my class‐ foster more acts of kindness. room to be a safe place where students could feel comfortable be‐ ing themselves and opening up about anything they were going We hope that celebrating kindness week might encourage a cul‐ through. In my classroom, students knew there was zero tolerance ture of kindness in Canada. Showing kindness to people, regardless for bullying, and they knew kindness was expected of them above of their station in life, affirms the human dignity that is inherent in all else. all of us. This is especially compounded in the current situation of the pandemic. One of the units I covered when teaching this course was on ran‐ In that spirit of kindness, I want to sincerely thank the member dom acts of kindness, where students learned the importance of be‐ for Saint-Laurent for her help in getting this bill to the finish line, ing kind to one another; the difference a simple act of kindness can working with all members in this place so we can realize Rabbi make in someone's day or, in some cases, in someone's life; and Bulka's vision for a kindness week in Canada, with the help of our about what could be considered an act of kindness. At the end of friend in the other place, Senator Munson, and all members of the the unit, their assignment was to do 10 random acts of kindness House, in doing the right thing, in doing the kind thing and getting within a two-week period and to write about them, what their im‐ this bill passed expeditiously. pact was on the people they were doing this act for, and how they felt in doing the act. ● (1450) Ms. (Saint-Laurent, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I appreciate the time I get to speak on this bill to‐ Members can probably imagine what those two weeks looked day, Bill S-223, an act respecting kindness week in Canada. like in our school: groups of friends sitting with a student eating his lunch alone and being genuinely interested in getting to know him; I will begin by thanking the member for Leeds—Grenville— leaving kind words on post-it notes on each other's lockers; or help‐ Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, for tabling this bill in the ing someone pay for something at the cafeteria. From what I read in House; Senator Jim Munson, for introducing the bill in the other their assignments, the kindness was spread beyond the school and place; Rabbi Reuvan Bulka, the founder of Kind Canada and the in‐ into their homes, when they helped their parents with chores around dividual who approached Senator Munson with the idea, and there‐ the house or visited grandma for a little longer that week. The re‐ fore was the inspiration behind this bill; and all of the House lead‐ flection on how this made others feel was important, because when ers and members in this place for allowing this to pass at such a we are kind to others, knowing we made a difference can feel so quick pace today, so that Canadians across the country may recog‐ great. nize the third week of February as kindness week every year in Canada. I did this with my students, because I had a vision for a kinder I have seconded this bill, because I think a little bit of kindness world, a world where people choose kindness over being mean and can go a very long way. Kindness is a sincere and voluntary use of insulting and a world where people are thoughtful and considerate one's time, talent and resources to better the lives of others, one's and try to bring light and positivity into the lives of those they own life and the world through genuine acts of love, compassion, come into contact with. I believe that kindness is contagious. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7271

Private Members' Business [Translation] ● (1500)

Every child, parent and adult reaps the benefits of kindness, Mr. David Sweet (Flamborough—Glanbrook, CPC): Madam whether they are the giver or the receiver. Kindness makes every‐ Speaker, I rise on a point of order, I hope my colleagues will spare one feel really good, which encourages them not to give up. me the opportunity for a brief intervention here. I know that it is not [English] normally done during Private Members' Business, but Rabbi Reuven Bulka is a phenomenal Canadian. I do not think he would When we go out of our way to be kind or do something nice for mind my saying that he has been a very good friend of mine for the someone, chances are they will want to pay it forward and do past 25 years. He has passed on some very great secrets of psy‐ something nice in return. We have all been on the receiving end of chotherapy from Dr. Viktor Frankl's work, who himself survived a a kind act. When it is not expected, it can surprise us and leave us death camp during the Holocaust. Rabbi Bulka, of course, has been feeling so appreciative. Sometimes that is not the case, because the a phenomenal Canadian in building bridges here in Ottawa and person we are doing a kind act for may not be ready to receive the across the nation, and was my co-chair in the all-party interfaith kindness, and that is okay. We cannot let those experiences get in friendship group here on Parliament Hill. the way of making an effort to be kind, because it is only by contin‐ uing and spreading kindness that we will change the world, one act at a time and one person at a time. Rabbi Bulka was recently diagnosed with late-stage cancer and began cancer treatments this past January. It would be my hope, be‐ In the words of Rabbi Bulka, “Being kind is nothing more than cause this initiative was inspired by him and it commemorates his being truly human. The kinder we are, the better all humanity will efforts, that the Speaker of the House would send a special note to be.” Rabbi Reuven Bulka just to say that all parties agree that kindness week would be a great idea, it is something that is truly Canadian, Some may wonder if designating a week to kindness really does and we would like to thank him for inspiring it. anything and what the point of it is, especially since we already live in one of the kindest countries in the world. While that may be true, designating a week to kindness would bring attention to the act of The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): I being kind. It would allow us to reflect on our actions and motivate thank the hon. member for the recommendation. Canadians across the country to be kinder to one another. It would serve as a reminder for those of us who sometimes get caught up in [Translation] the busyness of life and who may not be prioritizing kindness. It would give teachers the opportunity to teach their students about the importance of being kind to everyone. Do I have the consent of the House to do this? [Translation] Some hon. members: Agreed. As a former teacher, I can assure the House that designating a week to kindness motivates teachers, administrative staff and stu‐ (Motion agreed to) dents immensely because it encourages enthusiasm for a culture of kindness in their school. This enthusiasm can lead to the creation of kindness clubs and the emergence of leaders among the students. It The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): I can also create an opportunity to discuss bullying with students in will convey this message to the Speaker. class. [English] Resuming debate. The hon. member for Berthier—Maskinongé. This pandemic that we have been living with for more than a year now has left people feeling isolated and has taken away so Mr. Yves Perron (Berthier—Maskinongé, BQ): Madam many opportunities for us to connect with others. Now, more than Speaker, I am pleased to rise to speak about kindness. I, too, would ever, it is important to be kind to one another, and that can come in like to recognize Rabbi Reuven Bulka for his initiative and tell him many forms. We can bring groceries to a senior who may still be that our thoughts are with him. I sincerely hope that this exemplary afraid of leaving their home while public health measures are still show of solidarity by members of the House will bring him some in place; we can reach out to someone we have not spoken to in a comfort and perhaps give him some hope for the world. while, let them know we are thinking of them and that we are will‐ ing to listen if they need to talk; we can send someone a nice card What does it mean to be kind? of appreciation for the work they are doing to keep people safe; or we can educate our children. A little kindness goes a very long way. First of all, I have to say that I took it as a compliment that my On this note, I would like to once again thank Rabbi Bulka for all party asked me to speak today. It is true that I generally try to be of the important work that he has spent his life doing, Senator Mun‐ kind. Being kind involves doing little things, being attentive to and son for bringing this forward in the other place and the member for looking out for others. It is offering to carry a bag for someone Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes for bring‐ when we have nothing in our hands and their hands are full. It is ing it forward here. holding the door open for someone. It is smiling at people. 7272 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Private Members' Business It has been a bit hard to smile over the past year. However, we ● (1505) have all noticed that people can also smile with their eyes. As a joke, whenever we take photos now, I tell people to crinkle their I also have a message for my colleagues. I have been sharing eyes. It means the same thing because when we smile, it shows in some funny examples, but I have also seen some not-so-funny our eyes. Most of us do not like wearing masks because they are things in the House. I will not name names. It is water under the hot and we feel like we cannot breathe, but masks also make us fo‐ bridge. However, kindness is also the ability to convey one's mes‐ cus more on people's eyes. Even if we cannot show that we are sage without attacking others in a mean-spirited way. That is key. I smiling with our mouths, let us show it with our eyes, but let us think that is what the rabbi wanted to accomplish. He wanted peo‐ smile. ple to do better and be better.

World Kindness Day already exists. We celebrate it on Novem‐ We lost a great Quebecker recently. In all honesty, I think Serge ber 13. As I have learned, it has been recognized since 2014 in Bouchard was probably the wisest man I have ever heard speak. Quebec and since 2017 in Canada. It does not get much attention. Every time he opened his mouth, he exuded the humility of a hu‐ man being on a lifelong quest to become the best possible version Psychologist Pascale Brillon of the Université du Québec à Mon‐ of himself. tréal theorizes that November 13 was chosen because that is when dreary days set in and the temperature drops. It is a time when kind‐ I invite everyone here to embark on that quest, much like the rab‐ ness can soothe people's souls. bi who prompted this very debate. Kindness can be part of politics too. I am inspired by Quebec society, which has created a social Today's proposal would designate the third week of February as safety net that, though far from perfect and with room for improve‐ kindness week. Once passed, which I am sure it will be, we will ment, is nevertheless exemplary. Quebec has done more to reduce have a World Kindness Day as winter sets in and a kindness week social inequality than any other place in North America. We still around the time everyone is sick of winter. It will go a long way have inequality, but less than elsewhere. Let us also continue work‐ toward warming our hearts. ing toward that.

Kindness can sometimes be interpreted as a weakness or flaw, We must be vigilant about what we accept in our society, on so‐ especially in the political realm. It is actually anything but. Kind‐ cial media, for example. Lately, a lot of people seem to think that ness is a sign of great emotional intelligence. they can say or do whatever they want because they are hiding be‐ hind a keyboard. The member who spoke before me was talking Psychologist Pascale Brillon said, “people with high emotional about teaching. I was a teacher for 25 years and had to intervene in intelligence experience greater professional success. Emotional in‐ serious cases of cyberbullying. The only way to move forward and telligence is also the ability to care for others, to tune in to them, make progress is for the person who committed the act to under‐ and to be kind.” stand what they did. Kindness is not a weakness, far from it. It is a sign of strength, courage, empathy, altruism and compassion for others. It is possible I think that is the idea behind this proposal. Today I am thinking to take a stand and be true to oneself while being kind and civilized. about all of the municipal elected officials who recently announced I say that because it is something that I am trying to put into prac‐ they were leaving politics because they were tired and emotionally tice, even though, if I am being honest, I do not always succeed. I spent from dealing with insults on social media. We must be vigi‐ think that our job here is a strong incentive to do that every day. I lant. therefore invite all members of the House and all Canadians and Quebeckers to implement these good practices. I think that this kindness week will allow us to take another step forward. People who are unkind to us often behave that way be‐ Earlier, I gave some examples of acts of kindness. It is human cause they are hurt or in distress. If meanness did not exist, there nature to be kind. For anyone who has ever spent any time with would be no merit in being kind. If we have the strength to be kind, young children, have we not all marvelled at how a one-year-old in‐ receive criticism, listen to the message and understand it, the other fant will try to help someone carry a bag or open a door when they person will feel seen. can hardly even walk yet? Even if it feels like we are not getting back what we give, it is The naysayers who claim that people are fundamentally bad are not so bad. It is called paying it forward. We probably did a good mistaken. What makes people a bit more cruel and combative is thing for the other person, who will do a good thing for someone likely the competitive, capitalist world in which we live. else, before that good deed comes back to us. Everything balances out. Let us come back to the world of politics. We are working in an environment that encourages us to say, on a daily basis, that we are I think that when we are attentive to others, we can never go not the problem, someone else is. Members are always saying that wrong. I invite the government to be kind in the policies it is voting it is others who are not being nice or talking about how, when their on, namely to take care of seniors by increasing old age security party was in office, they did this or that. Personally, I listen to what and to take care of sick people who contributed to employment in‐ is being said and I learn from it. I have not been here very long, but surance their entire lives but are now entitled to only 26 weeks of I often hear that kind of thing. benefits instead of 50. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7273

Private Members' Business It would be kind to adopt these types of proposals in general, and are groups of local residents: volunteers who have come together to I am pleased that we are passing this bill today. Let us think about perpetuate, amplify, repeat and multiply acts of kindness through‐ it. out the community. I will close with a saying by Jacques Weber: kindness is the no‐ bility of intelligence. These are all examples of the strength kindness can bring to a ● (1510) community, a region, a country and indeed to the entire world. Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP): Madam Speaker, on behalf of the NDP caucus, I would also like to ● (1515) thank the member for Saint‑Laurent and the member for Leeds— Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes for their initiative [Translation] in bringing this important legislation before the House today and for the discussions that will follow. This also shows how important it is for all members to come to‐ We see these very acts of kindness repeated across the country. gether to have these conversations and get this bill passed. Look at the nurses, doctors and health care workers who often risk their own lives to perform acts of kindness. I would also like to thank Rabbi Reuven Bulka and everyone at the Kind Canada Généreux organization. This shows that courage and kindness can work together, even Our thoughts are with Rabbi Bulka. We hope that his health im‐ during a pandemic, and even when people's lives are at stake. proves and wish him a full recovery. Our thoughts are with him to‐ day. [English] [English] We are talking about kindness. Putting in place a kindness week is an important symbol of where we want our society to go, how we I am not sharing information that we do not know when I also want our society to interact and how we want people to work to‐ say we have seen a disturbing rise in the opposition to acts of kind‐ gether. I believe we all want to build a society of kindness. Of that ness, the toxic opposition which is acts and incidents of hate. It is there is no doubt. something that we need to call out. We have seen increased cases of racism, misogyny, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia and We have seen particular examples of the imperative of kindness transphobia. All of those hatreds have also increased during this through the course of this pandemic. I will mention just a few cases pandemic. of how we have seen Canadians and people around the world come together in an unprecedented way during the pandemic, and one might argue because of the pandemic. There is no doubt that the vast majority of Canadians know the importance of ensuring that acts of hate and incidents of hate are In my community, we have seen people taking care of each oth‐ eliminated, but it does show that the idea of a kindness week and er's neighbours, making sure shut-ins seniors are getting what they perpetrating acts of kindness is not a passive work. It is an active need, whether it is groceries or medication. People are taking care work and it also makes it a part of all our responsibilities, the im‐ of each other, showing acts of kindness in a very deliberate, orga‐ portance of stepping up against any act of hate, any hate speech and nized and focused way. any incidents of hate that occur in our community. We have also seen the countless acts of kindness that come from our health care workers and first responders. They are on the front [Translation] lines. They are vulnerable to COVID and its variants, yet we have seen countless cases of nurses, health care workers and first respon‐ ders such as firefighters stepping up despite the danger and show‐ Kindness also means fighting hatred. Unfortunately, during the ing ongoing acts of kindness and its importance. pandemic, there has been an increase in hateful acts and hate speech. If we, as Canadians, want to promote kindness, we must do The stories of health care workers who share the final moments everything possible to put and end to these hateful acts. of people passing away from COVID despite the risk to them‐ selves, knowing nobody else can come in and spend those final hours with those COVID patients, have been repeated across [English] Canada, but we have also seen them around the world. There have been countless cases of courage and kindness coming together at critical, dangerous times. How can we go beyond the acts of kindness in a kindness week? How can we ensure that we are truly a kind society? It really starts I have seen organizations in my community come together to put at the top. What that means is that when we talk about kindness and into effect the importance of kindness. Two community organiza‐ a kindness week, it is not only the relationship of Canadians with tions that have come together during COVID are Caring During each other; it is also the relationship of our institutions with Cana‐ COVID in Burnaby and Helping Hands in New Westminster. These dians. 7274 COMMONS DEBATES May 14, 2021

Private Members' Business When we see the rising number of homelessness in our country, on her best wishes to the rabbi and to thank him for pushing to have that is very clearly an abandoning of leadership around perpetrating this legislation for kindness week passed in this House as soon as acts of kindness. When we see people who are crying out for medi‐ possible. cation and public universal pharmacare and do not have the where‐ withal to pay for their medication at this critical time, that is also a call for acts of kindness that come from our institutions and ensure I really appreciate the preamble to this bill. These are things that that kindness is at every level of our society. We see people, as I do all of us can strive for. Kindness encourages values such as empa‐ in my community, who do not have access to basic dental work. I thy, respect, gratitude and compassion. Kind acts lead to the im‐ have seen first-hand the critical impact of not having dental care in proved health and well-being of Canadians. It is important to en‐ our country when a person's teeth start to fall out. That also is a call courage acts of kindness, volunteerism and charitable giving to the to action for kindness at every level. benefit of all Canadians. We need to encourage a culture of kind‐ ness in Canada throughout the year, but we must not limit our acts When we are talking about acts of kindness and when we are of kindness to Canadians and encourage a culture of kindness only talking about our institutions reflecting acts of kindness, we are al‐ in Canada. We must extend kindness to all people and all living so talking about our institutions reflecting and responding to the things on the planet. needs of Canadians. What that means is that we, as parliamentari‐ ans and the government, should constantly keep in mind that if we adopt this legislation, our institutions as well must be wedded to the vision of a society of kindness. On the topic of kindness, researcher and author Brené Brown said, “First and foremost, we need to be the adults we want our ● (1520) children to be. We should watch our own gossiping and anger. We [Translation] should model the kindness we want to see.” We must work on all fronts to ensure that our institutions also re‐ flect the importance of kindness throughout society. We live in a time when it has never been so easy to be unkind to [English] others. How many Canadians have received a negative comment on social media in a way they would never receive in person? This is I will end with two quotes. especially true for elected officials and public figures, but it hap‐ The first is from Rabbi Reuven Bulka who said, “Being kind is pens all the time to people who are not in the public eye as well. nothing more than being truly human. The kinder we are, the better Why has social media become so toxic? Why do so many people all humanity will be.” act in unkind ways online? The second quote is from former official opposition leader, Jack Layton, who many believe to be the greatest prime minister Canada This is not by chance. It is a by-product of the way social media never had. Just before he passed he said, “Love is better than anger. platforms are designed. Social media algorithms are designed to Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us make us spend as much time as possible on their platforms, in order be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.” to sell our attention to advertisers. What the algorithms have dis‐ Mr. (Nanaimo—Ladysmith, GP): Madam Speak‐ covered is that a great way to keep us engaged is by angering us, so er, it is an honour and a privilege to rise today on behalf of the the algorithms feed us posts that fuel our anger, which increases po‐ Green Party of Canada to speak to Bill S-223 from the traditional larization and destroys kindness. territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation and to serve the commu‐ nities of Nanaimo—Ladysmith in the unceded territories of the Snaw'naw'as, Snuneymuxw, Stz'uminus and Lyackson first nations. Campaigners have learned this too. Everywhere we look in the public political discourse these days, we see the weaponization of This bill was inspired by the work of Rabbi Reuven Bulka, who anger for short-term political gain. Feeding the dark and unkind has been advocating to designate the third week of February as sides of human nature will come at a great cost and will be hard to kindness week since 2007. Rabbi Bulka is the founder of Kind undo. Some thinkers have dubbed what is going on right now “a Canada, an organization that aims to inspire Canadians to cultivate war on sense-making”. Once upon a time, opposite political sides kindness in their day-to-day lives, support charitable causes and en‐ could engage in a rational and respectful debate about policy dis‐ hance the well-being of others. agreements. We now have political forces that are fanning the My colleague, the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands, is a flames of total delegitimization of their opponents, not just their op‐ good friend of Rabbi Bulka. Rabbi Bulka has been an important ponents’ policies and ideas, but their opponents themselves. Some part of her life for longer than she has been in the Green Party. of the language being used in emails sent to MP offices these days They met around the year 2000, when the Rabbi invited her to take is alarming. part in a program on community cable in Ottawa as a guest. The two of them did many shows together and discussed many topics, including the environmental movement and the idea that human Those who fan the flames of fear, mistrust and anger are at the dominance over other creatures is a misinterpretation of scripture. same time strangling kindness, empathy and mutual respect. We The hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands has asked me to pass will all pay dearly for this irresponsibility. May 14, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 7275

Private Members' Business The Dalai Lama tells us, “Be kind whenever possible. It is al‐ health crisis, the opioid overdose crisis, the homelessness crisis, the ways possible.” struggle against poverty, the struggle for peace, the crash in biodi‐ ● (1525) versity and the climate crisis. Every act of kindness is an act of de‐ fiance toward a social order that goes against our natural impulses The kindness of discomfort can be one of the most difficult toward compassion and empathy. forms of kindness to embody in our lives. Confronting injustice re‐ ● (1530) quires difficult conversations about privilege. It requires us to ac‐ knowledge how we benefit from systemic oppression. It requires us The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): to examine how we consciously or unconsciously perpetuate it. The The conclusion of the time provided for debate has now expired. It kindness of discomfort means not being afraid to take responsibility being 3:30 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, May 13, the for our own uncomfortable feelings. It means continuing to show motion is deemed adopted and Bill S-223, an act respecting kind‐ up and do the work of creating a more just society. ness week, is deemed read a second time, referred to a committee of the whole, deemed considered in committee of the whole, The kindness of discomfort is an especially important idea to talk deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at re‐ about right now. In my riding, there have been recent high-profile port stage and deemed read a third time and passed. incidents of anti-indigenous racism toward the Snuneymuxw First (Motion agreed to, bill read the second time, considered in com‐ Nation, when there was an outbreak of COVID-19 in its communi‐ mittee of the whole, reported without amendment, concurred in, ty, and when a memorial for missing and murdered indigenous read the third time and passed) women and girls was desecrated in the territory of the Stz'uminus First Nation. The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): If I may, I would like to take two seconds, on the theme of kindness. Canada is also experiencing a surge of anti-Asian racism. Racism is part of our history and our present. We do not like to see our‐ [Translation] selves this way, but it is essential to take the blinders off and sit in I would really like to thank my colleague in the chair, the hon. the discomfort of that reality. When it comes to breaking down the member for Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, for agreeing to structural and systemic barriers of racism, bias and discrimination, work with me today to ensure the conduct of the sitting. the kindness of discomfort is the greatest form of kindness we can [English] practise on a personal level. The kindness of discomfort is a con‐ scious choice to become a better ally in the work of building a more It was a long one and I appreciate all colleagues' participation. I equitable and inclusive society. American aviation pioneer and au‐ thank everyone who has made it so easy. thor Amelia Earhart wrote, “A single act of kindness throws out [Translation] roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” Pursuant to an order made on Thursday, May 13, 2021, the mo‐ I support the kindness week act and I deeply appreciate the work tion that the House do now adjourn is deemed to have been adopt‐ of Rabbi Bulka, who inspired it. Opening up opportunities for ed. Accordingly, the House stands adjourned until Tuesday, Canadians to cultivate kindness through education, action and ser‐ May 25, 2021, at 10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Orders 24(1) and vice also increases our opportunities for connection. Our discon‐ 28(2). nection from each other is a foundational problem in our society, and we are all living the outcomes of that problem in the mental (The House adjourned at 3:31 p.m.)

CONTENTS

Friday, May 14, 2021

GOVERNMENT ORDERS International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Mr. Garrison ...... 7237 Peoples Act Support for Families Bill C-15—Time Allocation Motion Ms. Koutrakis...... 7237 Mrs. Fortier ...... 7229

Motion ...... 7229 Alexandra Hospital

Mr. Genuis ...... 7229 Mr. MacKenzie ...... 7237 Mr. Lametti ...... 7229 Speech and Hearing Month Ms. Normandin ...... 7229 Mr. Sorbara ...... 7237 Mr. Julian ...... 7230 Human Rights Mr. Schmale ...... 7230 Ms. Vandenbeld...... 7237 Mr. Lamoureux ...... 7230

Ms. Larouche ...... 7231 André Gauthier

Mr. Boulerice ...... 7231 Mr. Martel ...... 7238 Ms. May (Saanich—Gulf Islands)...... 7231 Eid al-Fitr Mr. Sweet ...... 7231 Mr. Fergus ...... 7238 Mrs. Gill ...... 7232 Tributes by the Member for Bruce—Grey—Owen Mr. Bachrach ...... 7232 Sound Mr. Gerretsen ...... 7232 Mr. Ruff...... 7238 Mr. Schmale ...... 7232

Mr. Green ...... 7233 Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo Graduates

Mr. Melillo...... 7233 Mrs. McLeod (Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo) ...... 7238 Mr. Anandasangaree ...... 7233 Human Rights Mr. Julian ...... 7233 Mr. Green ...... 7239 Mr. Richards ...... 7234 Postal Service on the Lower North Shore Mrs. Vignola ...... 7234 Mrs. Gill ...... 7239 Points of Order Bill C-10 Comments by the Minister of Justice Mr. Kelly ...... 7239 Mrs. Wagantall ...... 7234 Government Policies United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Mr. Fonseca...... 7239 Peoples Act Bill C-15—Time Allocation Motion

Motion ...... 7234 ORAL QUESTIONS Motion agreed to ...... 7236 National Defence Business of the House Mr. Paul-Hus ...... 7239

Mr. Julian ...... 7236 Mr. Sajjan ...... 7240

Motion ...... 7236 Mr. Paul-Hus ...... 7240 Mr. Sajjan ...... 7240 Motion agreed to ...... 7236 Mr. Paul-Hus ...... 7240 Mr. Sajjan ...... 7240

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Canadian Heritage Ms. Harder...... 7240 Human Rights Ms. Dabrusin ...... 7240 Mr. Anandasangaree ...... 7236 Ms. Harder...... 7240 Human Rights Ms. Dabrusin ...... 7240 Mr. Morantz ...... 7236 Official Languages Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month Ms. Normandin ...... 7241 Ms. Damoff ...... 7236 Ms. Joly...... 7241 Ms. Normandin ...... 7241 Health Ms. Joly...... 7241 Mr. Doherty...... 7246 Ms. O'Connell ...... 7246 Natural Resources Mr. Boulerice ...... 7241 Violence Against Women Mr. Rodriguez ...... 7241 Mr. Gourde ...... 7246 Ms. Hutchings ...... 7246 Indigenous Affairs Ms. Blaney (North Island—Powell River) ...... 7241 Official Languages Mr. Miller ...... 7241 Ms. Michaud...... 7247 Ms. Joly...... 7247 Diversity and Inclusion Mr. Beaulieu ...... 7247 Mr. Berthold ...... 7242 Ms. Joly...... 7247 Ms. O'Connell ...... 7242 Mr. Berthold ...... 7242 Parks Canada Ms. O'Connell ...... 7242 Mr. Mazier ...... 7247 Ms. Rempel Garner ...... 7242 Mr. Wilkinson ...... 7247 Ms. O'Connell ...... 7242 Mr. Mazier ...... 7247 Mr. Duncan (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry)..... 7242 Mr. Wilkinson ...... 7247 Ms. O'Connell ...... 7242 Forest Industry Ms. Rempel Garner ...... 7242 Mr. Soroka ...... 7247 Ms. O'Connell ...... 7243 Mr. Serré ...... 7248 Mr. Duncan (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry)..... 7243 Ms. O'Connell ...... 7243 Rail Transportation Official Languages Mrs. Shanahan ...... 7248 Ms. Martinez Ferrada...... 7248 Mr. Perron ...... 7243 Ms. O'Connell ...... 7243 COVID-19 Emergency Response Mr. Desilets ...... 7243 Mr. Cumming ...... 7248 Ms. Joly...... 7243 Mr. Fraser ...... 7248 Foreign Affairs Mr. Cooper...... 7248 Mr. Fraser ...... 7248 Mr. Morantz ...... 7244 Mr. Vidal...... 7248 Mr. Garneau ...... 7244 Mr. Fraser ...... 7249 Airline Industry Mrs. Kusie ...... 7244 Agriculture and Agri-Food ...... Ms. Martinez Ferrada...... 7244 Mr. Longfield 7249 Mr. Ellis ...... 7249 The Economy Mr. Davidson ...... 7244 Transportation Mr. Fraser ...... 7244 Mr. Bachrach ...... 7249 Ms. Martinez Ferrada...... 7249 Housing Mr. Melillo...... 7244 Indigenous Affairs Mr. Vaughan ...... 7244 Ms. Wilson-Raybould ...... 7249 Mr. Virani ...... 7249 Public Safety Mr. Cannings ...... 7245 Mr. Lightbound ...... 7245 ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Indigenous Affairs Government Response to Petitions Ms. Ashton ...... 7245 Mr. Lamoureux ...... 7250 Mr. Virani ...... 7245 Motion ...... 7250 Housing (Motion agreed to)...... 7250 Mr. Baker ...... 7245 Mr. Vaughan ...... 7245

Statistics Canada GOVERNMENT ORDERS Ms. Findlay ...... 7245 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Mr. Ehsassi ...... 7246 Peoples Act Mr. Patzer ...... 7246 Bill C-15. Third reading ...... 7250 Mr. Ehsassi ...... 7246 Mr. van Koeverden ...... 7250 Mr. Genuis ...... 7252 Mr. Davidson ...... 7261 Ms. Normandin ...... 7252 Motion for concurrence...... 7261 Mr. MacGregor ...... 7252 (Motion agreed to)...... 7261 Ms. Damoff ...... 7253 Third reading ...... 7261 Mr. Bachrach ...... 7254 Mr. Boulerice ...... 7263 Ms. Larouche ...... 7254 Mrs. Vignola ...... 7263 Mr. Anandasangaree ...... 7254 Mr. Shipley ...... 7263 Mr. Poilievre ...... 7255 Mr. Kurek ...... 7263 Mr. Anandasangaree ...... 7256 Mr. Duguid ...... 7264 Mr. Julian ...... 7256 Ms. Pauzé ...... 7265 Mrs. Vignola ...... 7256 Mr. Boulerice ...... 7266 Mr. Cooper...... 7257 Mr. Kent ...... 7268 ...... Mr. Perron 7257 Mr. Gerretsen ...... 7269 Mr. Anandasangaree ...... 7258 Kindness Week Act Mr. Boulerice ...... 7258 Mr. Barrett ...... 7269 Mr. Vidal...... 7258 ...... Mrs. Atwin...... 7258 Bill S-223. Second reading 7269 ...... Mr. Boulerice ...... 7260 Ms. Lambropoulos 7270 Mr. Anandasangaree ...... 7260 Mr. Sweet ...... 7271 Mr. Viersen ...... 7260 Motion ...... 7271 Division on motion deferred...... 7261 (Motion agreed to)...... 7271 Mr. Perron ...... 7271 Mr. Julian ...... 7273 PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS Mr. Manly ...... 7274 (Motion agreed to, bill read the second time, considered Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 in committee of the whole, reported without amendment, Bill C-204. Report stage ...... 7261 concurred in, read the third time and passed) ...... 7275 Published under the authority of the Speaker of Publié en conformité de l’autorité the House of Commons du Président de la Chambre des communes SPEAKER’S PERMISSION PERMISSION DU PRÉSIDENT

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